Hi All,

Jim Boxwell invited Anne Bishop, Bob Boxwell and me (Patty Craig) along 
on his quest for the Thick-billed Murre, Eurasian Wigeon and American 
White Pelican on Saturday.  Our first stop in Ocean City was at 4th 
Street.  I found a suspect bird way up by the northernmost green marker 
after Jim wandered away.  The view was not crisp from that distance so I 
don't have many details.  The bird was very black and very white and its 
head was tucked as it dozed.  It finally got active and what we saw was 
still consistent with a murre.  It was short-necked and stout-bodied.  
There were 3 or 4 Common Loons in the same area, but not close to the 
suspect individual and they were larger billed and appeared gray not 
black.  It began diving and it was slowly moving to the east.  We 
finally thought to call Jim on the cell phone, but by the time he made 
it back to the scope it had moved out of sight possibly behind the island.

We then went to the inlet seeing the Peregrine Falcon along the way. 
 Other birders were out toward the ocean end of the inlet and we joined 
them.  About 11 AM I needed to walk to get a little warmer and I decided 
to follow Jim to check out a group of shorebirds that flew in near the 
closer end of the board walk.  As we were talking I saw an alcid flying 
from the bay into the inlet behind Jim.  Jim got on it quickly.  The 
bird was flying through the inlet closer to the south jetty, but right 
past our vantage point.  It was extremely exciting to see this 
almond-shaped almost neckless and tail-less bird beating its triangular 
wings so rapidly this close and across our line of sight.  To us the 
bill was consistent with Thick-billed Murre which quickly eliminates 
Razorbill.  The cheeks were mostly black with some white below and 
before the eye, the very black upperparts contrasted greatly with the 
very white underparts.  The deep chest was very impressive. 
Unfortunately Jim and both tried to get the group of birders to see the 
the murre.  Our yelling and pointing directed their attention to us and 
they thought we were waving them to come to us instead of looking into 
the inlet.  No one else got on the bird therefore we don't know where it 
went.  Though I don't think anyone can be 100% sure of a flying bird, 
Jim and I are as close to being certain that it was the Thick-billed 
Murre as you can be.  In our haste to coordinate the trip none us of 
remembered a field guide and I have not checked one yet so that opinion 
might change.

We did get Jim the Eurasian Wigeon at the golf course and the pelicans 
(at least 5) at Blackwater.  Bob saw his first Osprey of the year at 
Blackwater.  Anne was especially thrilled by the pelicans.

Good Birding,
Patty Craig
Dameron, MD (St. Mary's)