Hi,

I finished the day yesterday at Point Lookout in St Mary's County where
I saw a single Wilson's Storm-Petrel near sunset (literally).  I was
looking to the west into the Potomac so the light was terrible but
otherwise it was a great scope view and I watched the bird for several
minutes flying, pattering, and on several occasions momentarily landing
on the water.  It was the best scope view I have ever had of a Storm
Petrel.  I didn't have anything else unusual at Point Lookout since I
arrived just before sunset but there were the expected Pelicans and a
few terns, probably Forster's.

Afterwards I had a juvenile Great Horned Owl near the end of Cornfield
Harbor Road.  Earlier I had 2-4 Dickcissals at Beauville Ponds as well
as Grasshopper Sparrows, Meadowlarks and lots of Halloween and Calico
Pennants.

I spent the earlier part of the day at Flag Ponds in Calvert Country
where I was primarily looking for bugs, but I did see 2 Spotted
Sandpipers, lots of Ospreys, Pelicans, Eagles and Tree Swallows in
addition to Four-spotted Pennants, Rambur's Forktails and Tiger Beetles
(Hairy-necked or Bronzed - need to look them up).  

I was hoping to hear some more night birds on the way home but perhaps
it was too noisy with all of the insects in full song.  

It was great to get out to enjoy the middle of summer with a few fall
migrants mixed in.

Tom


Tom Feild
GOES N-P Mission Systems Engineer
301.286.6686
NASA/GSFC
Code 599
Greenbelt, Md 20771