Sorry for this late report but I just got back from school.
I went to Eastern Shore last weekend, on Saturday (12/10) and saw quite a
number of unusual birds. These birds included a Rough-legged hawk, possible
Pacific loon, the cave swallows, Iceland gull, the harlequin duck pair and the
black chinned hummingbird.
The possible Pacific loon I saw was on the right side of the highway after
leaving the CBBT (driving North). It's that area of water right after
Fisherman's Island and right before the toll booth. There was a Common Loon
there also for comparison. It's an area of road at which you really cannot
stop the car. The only way I saw it was when my dad drove very slowly for a
few minutes in that area. The loon had a white round patch on its flanks, had
a light brownish, bluish head going down to its neck with its eye in the
light-brownish-bluish part of the head, meaning it wasn't a red-throated loon.
It didn't have that side horizontal necklace that the common loon had. Hey,
maybe this might be the same Pacific loon that was seen earlier this year at
Kiptopeke. I'm not saying it's a definite, but it has a lot of features that a
Pacific loon has.
An Iceland gull was hanging out with the gulls at Island 3 of the CBBT and the
Harlequin duck pair was on Island 3. On Island 2, there was a Peregrine falcon
flying off the rocks.
Also, saw an immature (juvenile first year) Rough-legged hawk at Eastern Shore
National Wildlife Refuge just sitting in a tree. He was on Route 600, shortly
after turning left from the Refuge and travelling north on that road (I think
the road is called Bayside Road). He was definitely not a red-tailed hawk
because it had a light-tannish head and extensive black streaking on the belly,
much more than a red-tailed hawk would have. Also, the hawk had a much flatter
and shorter head than the red-tailed hawk has.
There were 8 cave swallows on a powerline along the intersection of Route 600
with Latimer Siding Road along with a tree swallow. The Black-chinned
hummingbird made its appearances at Ned Brinkley's feeder. On Magotha Road, saw
some pine warblers on a powerline overhanging a field which is a weird habitat
choice for them. Quite a few palm warblers were out that day.
- Daniel Lader
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