Maryland Ornithological Society

08/20/2026

Fall warbler migration is just starting to pick up in Maryland! While we see many of the same species during the fall, many of them have undergone molts into their non-breeding, or “basic” plumage. For warblers, this means that they forsake the flashy colors of spring and summer for more subtle, muted hues that help them blend in with foliage. In some species, these changes are more drastic than others— can you name the four species listed here, each with one photo of their non-breeding and breeding plumages?

Drop your guesses in the comments!

Photos by Kojo Baidoo

08/10/2026

MOS’s very own president, Steve Sheffield, made an appearance in a recent Popular Science article about the red-footed b***y spotted in Maryland!

Check out some of his quotes below, and read the full article here: https://www.popsci.com/environment/rare-red-footed-b***y-maryland/

08/04/2026

Did you know that fall migration is already well underway?

The cicadas might be deafening and your local backyard birds might still have nests or fledglings to attend to, but visitors from farther north are arriving in Maryland on their southward migration as we speak! The first birds to return are often shorebirds like this semipalmated sandpiper, which likely only arrived on its Arctic breeding grounds by early June, raised young, and then started its journey south by mid-July. It could be heading all the way down to South America to winter, so it’s got to get an early start!

By the end of the summer, you’ll notice that warblers and other Neotropical songbirds are on the move too, and then we’ll be deep into the thick of things. So, don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the newest fall arrivals as we head into August!

📸: Semipalmated Sandpiper by Kojo Baidoo

07/29/2026

Thank you to our partners for helping us plan field trips and recruit field trip leaders for the 78th Annual Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) Convention in Salisbury, MD! Click here to learn more about these wonderful organizations ➡️ https://mosconvention.org/partners-2026/

You can follow them on Facebook:

▪️Tri-County Bird Club
▪️American Birding Association
▪️Lower Shore Land Trust
▪️Delaware Wild Lands, Inc.
▪️Sussex Bird Club
▪️Delaware Ornithological Society
▪️Maryland Biodiversity Project
▪️DC Bird Alliance
▪️Audubon Mid-Atlantic
▪️Maryland's Wicomico County

07/28/2026

🚨Rarity Alert!🚨

Over the weekend, a RUFF was found by Ron Ketter at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, Maryland! This rare Eurasian visitor to the United States is well-known for the male’s elaborate plumage and mating display. Although they’re supposed to spend the winter in Africa and Asia, sometimes they a bit turned around and find themselves on the other side of the ocean, which is likely what happened to this bird.

Since Saturday, this individual has been spotted in mixed sandpiper flocks in the wildlife drive’s shallow pools. Sometimes, Ruffs can be hard to identify, but since this one is a male, his colorful black, white, and reddish plumage stands out. However, you may have noticed that his namesake ruff is missing. That’s because males molt their head and neck feathers right after breeding, and the rest of the body follows later! Since he’s a bit lost right now, there’s no telling how long he’ll stay, but any rarity chasers will certainly enjoy his presence while he’s around!

📸: Kojo Baidoo

07/20/2026

Have you ever seen a brown b***y?

Found in tropical waters across most of the world, this species nests on islands and spends the nonbreeding season out at sea. With the closest breeding colonies located in the Caribbean, seeing one of these striking seabirds in Maryland was nothing more than a birder’s dream as recently as two decades ago! However, as ocean waters have warmed, sightings in the North Atlantic have dramatically increased, especially in the past ten years— Maryland’s first record came in 2009, and the second in 2015. In present day, brown bo***es are a regular but scarce visitor to the Chesapeake Bay from mid-summer through the fall. However, in most cases you’ll need a boat to actually lay eyes on one! Look for them roosting on buoys or barges, sometimes mixed in with other waterbirds.

This stunning individual was one of three spotted recently in Anne Arundel County waters!

📸: Brown B***y by Kojo Baidoo

***y

07/14/2026

🚨Rarity Alert!🚨

This RED-FOOTED B***Y was recently spotted in the Chesapeake Bay, off Thomas Point Park in Anne Arundel County! This tropical seabird is usually found much farther south, with a wide distribution that spans three oceans. Since they spend long periods of time out at sea, this species and others like it are prone to wandering far out of range. Increasingly abnormal weather patterns and warming waters have resulted in more sightings in recent years, including Maryland’s first ever in 2024.

According to observers, this bird was pretty friendly! It approached multiple boats and even landed at points, possibly to get a bit of rest or get some fish before continuing on its way. It has not been refound and is likely hundreds or even thousands of miles away by now, but a closely related species is showing up in the Chesapeake right around now… more on that later!

📸:Red-footed B***y by Margaret Mostheller and Sarah Isbell; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library

***y

07/12/2026

Registration for the 78th Annual MOS Convention in Salisbury, MD has been closed. Read more on the Maryland Ornithological Society Convention page.

Registration for the 78th Annual Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) Convention has been closed. The convention will be hosted Sept. 25-27, 2026 in Salisbury, MD.

We may have some convention participants cancel before the Sept. 1 registration cutoff date. If someone cancels, we may be able to register you. If you wish to add your name to the waitlist, please click here and follow the instructions ➡️ https://mosconvention.org/registration-2026/

MOS has capped 2026 convention registration at 200 participants. This is due to space limitations for afternoon and evening events at the DoubleTree by Hilton, our convention hotel.

This will not be an issue for the 79th Annual MOS Convention, which will be hosted May 21-23, 2027 at the Wisp Resort in Western Maryland.

Photo 📸 from the May 2023 MOS Convention at the Wisp Resort.

07/12/2026

MOS has capped 2026 convention registration at 200 participants. This is due to space limitations for afternoon and evening events at the DoubleTree by Hilton, our convention hotel. This will not be an issue for the 79th Annual MOS Convention, which will be hosted May 21-23, 2027 at the Wisp Resort in Western Maryland.

07/10/2026

22 openings remain for the 78th Annual Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) Convention in Salisbury, MD. Register soon if you want to join us!

The 78th Annual MOS Convention will be hosted at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Salisbury, MD during Sept. 25-27, 2026.

On July 9, the MOS Convention Registrar informed us that 178 participants have registered for the convention. There are 22 spots remaining since registration will be capped at 200. If you plan to attend the Sept. 25-27 convention in Salisbury, MD, please don’t wait to register!

Registration is $60 for MOS members and $80 for non-members. When you register, you will also select your meals at the DoubleTree by Hilton. To register for the convention, click here ➡️ https://mosconvention.org/registration-2026/

We are pleased to report that 32 artwork submissions were received for the Pin Design Contest! Thanks to the artists who submitted their designs.

There are still some rooms available at the DoubleTree by Hilton. The discounted room rate is only available through August 15. If you still need a room, please click here ➡️ https://mosconvention.org/accommodations-2026/

We will be updating www.MOSconvention.org with field trip information over the next few weeks. Field trip signups open on August 1. Many thanks to our 40+ volunteer Field Trip Leaders 😀 To review our list of fabulous trip leaders, click here ➡️ https://mosconvention.org/field-trip-leaders-2026/

Volunteers are needed to assist with registration and other convention functions. If you are interested in serving as a convention volunteer, please email MOS Convention Chair Jim Rapp at [email protected].

We hope you'll join us in Salisbury for the 78th Annual MOS Convention!

📸 Birders on the observation deck in the Village of Ewell on Smith Island. On Friday, Sept. 25, the 78th Annual MOS Convention will host a birding by boat trip to Smith Island, MD and Tangier Island, VA. Photo courtesy of Jim Rapp.