Howard County Bird Club
A Chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society
Blackwater NWR
| Trip leader: Kurt Schwarz Photographers: see below |
Date of trip: January 7, 2023 |
| Locations: see below | Number attending: 15 |
| Details: An eager group assembled at the Broken Land Parkway Park and Ride at 6:00 a.m. on January 7. We set off at 6:15, and just north of the Chesapeake College saw a massive Snow Goose flight high up heading east. We arrived at the Long Wharf Park in Cambridge shortly after 8;00, with views of gulls and some diving ducks, including a close Long-tailed Duck. The next stop, Oakley Street offered stunning close ups of American Wigeon, Canvasback, and Lesser Scaup. The Redheads and interesting duck hybrids of past years were not found. The last stop in Cambridge was Great Marsh Park, where we hoped to find a Harlequin Duck drake last seen on January 3. We could not find it. We set out for Blackwater, but wrong turn took us on a different route, so that we were able to stop at the Blackwater Visitor Center first, with its civilized amenities. There we learned that the Marsh Edge Trail was closed due to eagle nesting; it had been open last year, and provided some nice species. After a stop to look at waterfowl, we went to the observation platform, and were able to spot from there a distant flock of American White Pelicans. Nothing else unusual was found on the Wildlife Loop at Blackwater, and we adjourned to the Visitor Center for lunch. From there we took the long road to Hooper’s Island. The first stop yielded nothing of note, but as we ended the road a large flock of Boat-tailed Grackles was at the water’s edge. We quickly parked and managed to get a few photos of at least three dozen of these handsome birds. Some in the group saw a Great Egret in a roadside ditch, but the leader’s car missed it. Finally, we set out on a long drive to the Bestpitch Bridge. We had met two other birders with local knowledge, at Great Marsh, who suggested Bestpitch as the best bet for Short-eared Owls. After parking and a bit of wait with a few Northern Harriers, Lauren spotted the first owl. They put on a nice show, though a bit distant for a few minutes after that while it was still light. A fun time was had by all. (The first stop is just north of Chesapeake College, Queen Anne’s County; the remainder are in Dorchester County) | |
Just north of Chesapeake College
Snow Geese: 2500
Cambridge—Long Wharf Park
Canada Goose 33
Mallard 3
Lesser Scaup 1
Surf Scoter 4
Long-tailed Duck 11
Bufflehead: 4
Common Goldeneye 3
Horned Grebe 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Ring-billed Gull 51
Herring Gull 55
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Fish Crow 1
Cambridge—Oakley St/Belvedere Ave
Canada Goose 5
American Wigeon 38
Mallard 9
Canvasback 210
Lesser Scaup 95
Surf Scoter 3
Bufflehead 8
Common Goldeneye 9
Ruddy Duck 7
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Wren 1
Cambridge—Great Marsh Park
Canada Goose 700
Greater Scaup 2
Surf Scoter 22
Long-tailed Duck 8
Bufflehead 24
Common Goldeneye 6
Ruddy Duck 80
Horned Grebe 1
Ring-billed Gull 75
Herring Gull 35
Great Black-backed Gull 8
Blackwater NWR
Canada Goose 2000
Tundra Swan 230
Northern Shoveler 78
Mallard 36
American Black Duck 5
Northern Pintail 21
Redhead 1
Hooded Merganser 8
Ring-billed Gull 200
American White Pelican 21
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 2
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 3
Northern Harrier 5
Bald Eagle 8
Belted Kingfisher 1
Blue Jay 1
Brown-headed Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 8
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 2
Tyler Cove Boat Ramp
Bufflehead 3
Ring-billed Gull 25
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 3
Bald Eagle 5
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Crow 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
Middle Hooper’s Island
Black Scoter 2
Surf/Black Scoter 1
Long-tailed Duck 1
Bufflehead 13
Red-throated Loon 2
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 1
European Starling 55
Eastern Bluebird 2
Boat-tailed Grackle 33
Bestpitch
Tundra Swan 127
Killdeer 4
Northern Harrier 5
Short-eared Owl 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Tree Swallow 15
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 1
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Red-winged Blackbird 152
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Northern Cardinal 1