Birding the Inlet at Ocean City, Maryland

I spent this past Saturday birding two Atlantic Ocean coastal inlets with the bird club.  It was windy and cold, and rain was due by mid-afternoon.

We started at the inlet at Ocean City, Maryland.  There we found small numbers of Scoters, Buffleheads, Common and Red-throated Loons, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Long-tailed Ducks.  With our scopes, we could see the Razorbills, nice.  We had hoped for a Dovekie sighting but no luck on that one.

Getting focused photos were difficult with the winds, but I did manage a few.  This first photo was important…. a lifer!

Purple Sandpipers, waaaay on the other side of the inlet, but there they are! – Lifer #317

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Sanderling

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Bufflehead (female)

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White-winged Scoters

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We left the inlet and before heading to the second one, we made a stop at Ocean City’s Rt. 50W causeway, to scope Skimmer Island.  I got a few shots there.

Brants (total was 150+)

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Bufflehead (female)

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Bald Eagle

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And then we made a quick stop at a strip mall’s water management pond known for Black-Crowned Night Herons to see if they were there.  They were, eight of them!

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Black-crowned Night Heron (adult)

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As one parent watched from the tree, others circled over us in flight.  It was quite thrilling!

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Black-crowned Night Heron (immature)

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Black-crowned Night Heron (immature)

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Black-crowned Night Heron (adult)

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With Elliott’s Pond next door, we quickly finished up with all the ducks and birds there.

At this point and time, we had a half hour drive and rain to start in 2-3 hours.  We jumped in our vehicles and got moving, heading to Indian River Inlet, for what was to be a thrilling birding bonanza!  More to come….

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