The field trip to the Irish Grove Sanctuary had mixed success. Other than the field trip leaders Gwen Brewer and George Jett, I was the only attendee. Also the sanctuary had been winterized (contrary to what Gwen had been informed previously) so there was no running water. We decided to stay there Friday night but go elsewhere Saturday night. We participated in the Rarity Roundup on Saturday so it probably made a little more sense to stay someplace closer to Ocean City anyway. We did some night birding (by Ear) Friday night and walked part-way out Rumbly Point Road into the Marsh. There were lots of ducks (presumably all black ducks) calling and a noisy Great Blue Heron (that didn't like our flashlights), several Dunlin were calling from the marsh too. George and Gwen heard Bobwhite early Saturday morning.

I had fun at the roundup but no mega-rare birds. I saw an adult Lesser Black-backed gull at the landfill, Long-billed Dowitcher(s) at Berlin Sewage ponds along with 250 Green-winged Teal (and other ducks), a Forster's Tern, Little Blue Herons, and Great Egrets. That was a good spot to cover. I also found a Common Yellowthroat in the sparrow fields on Evans Road that was nice to see at this time of the year. I saw an Osprey on Hayes Landing Road.

Some of the most incredible birds from the Tally were a Warbling Vireo that Bob Ringler reported seeing and a Yellow-throated Warbler seen by our fearless leader Gwen Brewer.

For more highlights from the roundup, see the MDOSPREY Posts:

see number 38 and number 32 in particular

J.B.