Folks

While helping band Royal Terns on Skimmer Island on Thursday, July 14 I photographed a Marbled Godwit.  Other birds on the island were Double-crested Cormorants, lots of Pelicans,  one two Tricolored Heron,  7 Snowy Egrets, a couple fly by Great Egrets, 25 American Oystercatcher, Willett, two Least Sandpipers, and Herring, Black-backed, and Laughing Gulls.  The name of this island may have to be changed from Skimmer to Herring Gull Island.  No Black Skimmers were found to be nesting, and in large part because of the presence of the Herring Gulls.

After the Royal banding exercise,  I went over to Assateague to the state park.  I was looking for Piping Plover to photograph.  I eventually found two birds north of the park.  I also ran into about 20 Least Terns, 15 Willets, and 9 Sanderlings still in breeding plumage on my hike.  

On my return I heard and photographed a House Wren and Song Sparrow at the entrance to the state park.  

Tired but satisfied, I drove back to the security of Charles County.

George
Waldorf, MD.