The 2003 Ocean City Christmas Bird Count numbers show the second highest species count ever in Ocean City’s designated site and a number of avian surprises too.

A ruddy turnstone rests on a rock by the Ocean City Inlet.

Encompassing a 15-mile diameter circle centered about a mile ESE of Berlin, the Dec. 28 count featured 162 species, the second highest all time tally. In the 56 years of the survey, only 16 years have had 150 or more species. The count averages 146 species.

Covering the north end of Assateague, Berlin, Ocean Pines, and several miles of the Pocomoke River, 38 individuals counted 117,603 birds with two notable neophytes. Spotters counted a flock of American white pelicans that have been present since November in the lower reaches of Trappe Creek. The species normally only ranges as far north as central Florida. The first two hoary redpolls ever also showed up on Assateague. The Arctic finch species rarely winters south to New England.

Also remarkable was the sudden irruption of common redpolls which were nowhere to be found on the Atlantic Coast before Dec. 28 when they suddenly appeared en mass on Assateague and then left by noon.

Stunning and disturbing features of the count came in the form of the first ever survey with no boat-tailed grackles and a new all-time low for quail of just eight birds. A monarch butterfly was found alive and well on Assateague Island, the only butterfly of this species ever found on the count.

The following species set new or tied all time high counts: little blue heron (6), ring-necked duck (296), bufflehead (7,100), hooded merganser (303), greater yellowlegs (56), lesser black-backed gull (6), house wren (24), Lincoln's sparrow (3), and common redpoll (186).

Also in higher than usual numbers were great cormorants, tricolored herons, redheads, and common mergansers. However, overall numbers of total birds were down from the recent 30-year average of 160,000.

Like them or not, a new daytime roost site with thousands of birds was discovered for local snow geese. The roost is 4-5 miles due east of the O.C. Inlet. Shortly after dark and until about 8 p.m., thousands of birds could be seen flying over the lights of the resort in long waving white lines headed inland to feed.

A few rare winter birds included 10 tricolored herons, American bitterns, a Ross’ goose, a Eurasian widgeon, a marbled godwit, phalaropes, a black-legged kittiwake, saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrows, and a Baltimore oriole.

Bobwhite quail numbers hit an all-time low this year with only 11 birds sited.

As always the count would not have been possible with out so many landowners granting access to their properties. With little public land in the circle, the count would be useless without their help. Waterman’s Restaurant owner Ed Horner even took several observers out on his boat to find a number of species that they never would have otherwise seen. The restaurant was also the site of the tally dinner.

Each year the National Audubon Society in cooperation with the Maryland Ornithological Society hosts the event which serves as the catalyst for scientific research. Volunteers around the country donate millions of hours toward the important work.

The high numbers boasted by eastern Worcester show just how important an area the coastal bays are for wintering birds and passing migrants. Unbroken forests and unaltered tidal creeks and embayments are critical.

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Army Corps of Engineers and Worcester County are all working together in the area to pinpoint and protect critical migrant and breeding bird habitat.

Thanks to Norm Saunders for preparing the Ocean City Christmas Bird Count Report.