Dave Lord et. al. report:
"Belleplain started out with 'Warblers in the Mist' with a nice view of a Yellow-throated Warbler in the parking lot, as well as two Red-Breasted Nuthatches mixing it up for reasons unknown. The Louisiana Waterthrush was heard at the bridge, but still fairly distant, and a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher was heard at the Concession Stand by Lake Nummy. The biggest surprise was not even a passerine however: it was a beautiful Male Surf Scoter sitting in the lake at Hand's Mill pond. A Ring-necked Duck and an American Wigeon along with some Gadwall tried to get some attention there as well, but all eyes were on the anomalous Scoter."
Location: Belleplain State Forest
Observation date: 4/3/10
Notes: First Saturday Birds of Belleplain. Jim Armstrong, Shaun and Cindy Bamford, BJ Pinnock, Bert Hixon, Dave Lord
Number of species: 30
Canada Goose 16
Gadwall 3
American Wigeon 1
American Black Duck 2
Surf Scoter 1
Wild Turkey 2 Pre-Walk
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 15
Herring Gull 20
Mourning Dove 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 4
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Fight at parking lot
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Heard at concession stand by BJ
American Robin 7
Yellow-throated Warbler 5
Pine Warbler 22
Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Heard
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brown-headed Cowbird X
American Goldfinch 1
"The Maurice River is hopping! Upwards of 30 (!) Ospreys were seen on both trips, and the second Bald Eagle Cruise had 10 Eagles, all adults! Forster's Terns have returned to the river, as have Purple Martins and Laughing Gulls. A pair of Blue-winged Teal were seen flying off, as were two Wilson's Snipes that landed on the old Dike Farm. The highlght would have to be the brawl between an Osprey who held some grievance with a Bald Eagle. A fight ensued wherein the Osprey dive bombed the Eagle for upwards of five minutes, to the amazement of all."
Location: Maurice River Eagle Survey
Observation date: 4/3/10
Number of species: 20
Canada Goose 15
Green-winged Teal 17
Double-crested Cormorant 23
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 8
Osprey 35
Bald Eagle 10
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Dunlin 7
Wilson's Snipe 2
Laughing Gull 8
Herring Gull 12
Forster's Tern 5
Belted Kingfisher 8
Purple Martin 7
Tree Swallow 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Song Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 7
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Location: Maurice River Eagle Survey
Observation date: 4/3/10
Notes: CMBO Sponsored "Bald Eagle Cruise on Maurice River."
Number of species: 25
Canada Goose 15
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 8
Blue-winged Teal 2
Green-winged Teal 13
Common Merganser 3
Double-crested Cormorant 35
Great Blue Heron 2
Snowy Egret 9
Turkey Vulture 11
Osprey 35
Bald Eagle 5
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Greater Yellowlegs 4
Dunlin 7
Laughing Gull 23
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 21
Forster's Tern 11 First of season for me
Belted Kingfisher 5
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 6
Purple Martin 5 First of season for me; also at personal colony
Tree Swallow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 15
