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Late November in coastal Worcester Co., Maryland. Last updated: 12/2/2009.
Above and below: A first-cycle Franklin's Gull at the Ocean City Inlet, Maryland (11/29/2009). It was a Worcester Co. bird for Mark Hoffman, which says a lot about the species' rarity in the county. It appears to be the third record for the county after 2/8/1986 (Rick Blom, pelagic) and 10/11/1991 (Michael O'Brien, O.C. Inlet). Thanks to Bob Ringler for maintaining and sharing these records. Notice the tiny bill, delicate structure, cute appearance, distinctive partial hood, short wings, and clean white underwings with black in the primaries.
Below: We relocated the bird at dusk after it had gone to roost with the large gull flock north of the fishing pier.
Below: Bonaparte's Gulls in transit past Ocean City, Maryland (11/29/2009).
Below: A migrant drake Wood Duck at the Ocean City Inlet, Maryland (11/29/2009).
Below: A Swamp Sparrow enjoys a light breakfast at Fairmount WMA, Somerset Co., Maryland (12/29/2009).
Below: A Myrtle Warbler at Fairmount WMA, Maryland (12/29/2009).
Below: A Brown Pelican at the Ocean City Inlet, Maryland (11/29/2009).
Below: A male Northern Flicker in Somerset Co., Maryland (11/29/2009). The second image shows an undertail view that's difficult to mistake.
Below: An Eastern Bluebird in Somerset Co., Maryland (11/29/2009).
Below: Several of the nearly 500 Red-throated Loons that flew south past the Ocean City Inlet during a three-house sea watch on 11/29/2009.
Below: A Sanderling in Ocean City, Maryland (11/29/2009).
Below: A Brown-headed Nuthatch at Fairmount WMA, Maryland (12/29/2009).