It was a pretty full day of birding in AA Co on Saturday. 

Highlights:
Thomas Point: 10-11 AM
CANVASBACK, RUDDY DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD all present.  Ruddies were the biggest count for us this morning.  There was quite a raft of DECOYS near a boat blind.  Had me fooled for a few minutes, until I saw the hunters pop their heads out of the boat, without nary a fake feather moving in the surrounding flock.  It wasn't my first clue the birds were fakes, but it sure sealed the observation!  

Also saw three BLUE WING TEAL, first swimming and then in flight. 

A single HORNED GREBE was showing off at the point, as were many EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.   We were told of a couple of REDHEADS in with a large raft of CANVASBACK on the south side, near the docks.  But the raft had moved out of easy-look range when we arrived.  We did see TUNDRA SWAN there as well.  

There also were a good half-dozen CORMORANTS at the lighthouse.  Viewing conditions were only good, not excellent, so I could not tell anything special about these cormorants.  There was another scope around, better than mine, and the birder said he thought they could be GREAT, as he thought there was some white below.  But, even lookng through his scope, I could not confirm at all.  Could have been either species, as far as I'm concerned.  

Afterwards, went to Greenbury Point. There from about 11:30 - 2:00.  

Saw some nice first-of-year COMMON GOLDENEYE, a few more LESSER AND GREATER SCAUP, some COMMON MERGANSERS and HOODED MERGANSERS.  BLACK DUCK, RUDDIES, MALLARD, BUFFLEHEAD.  Very ducky, as you can see.  

The Bird of the Day was a wonderful little FIELD SPARROW.  It was a life bird for me.  He gave us a good long look, disappeared and came back for more.  My friend spotted the pink little bill, and we had the ID.  After we happily called his "name", the bird flew up, landed on some tall grass and chirped a bit.  Then it flew across the road on which we were standing, landed on a tree branch in the open. Looked at us, and gave a few calls.  What a delight to have a bird give a show like that, especially when "named".  Think they know when we ID them?  I doubt it, but it's alwasy so fun.... 

Also had a BALD EAGLE on a post, eating some dinner.  Earlier in the day, at SHOREHAM BEACH, we saw a juvenile BE being harrassed by some gulls - badly enough the eagle dropped what he was carrying in his claws (breakfast, presumably). 

Sandy Point State Park - we arrived pretty late, around 3:30.  Not a whole lot of birds out, for the most part.  The highlights were a single BONAPARTES GULL, two GREATER SCAUP swimming along with a single LESSER SCAUP and a LONG TAILED DUCK flying most handsomely in.   The "family" of about 6-9 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were a nice surprise, as was a small flock of HOUSE FINCH. 

All in all, a good day.  Nice to see the ducks are back! 

Joanne

joanne howl, dvm
west river, md