The impoundments along the C&O Canal upriver (upcanal?) from Pennyfield were frozen this morning (although melting by the time I got there around 11). Maybe the reason why there wasn't a single duck where the Shovelers were seen until yesterday. I found 23 Mallards on the low but flowing Canal between Pennyfield and Blockhouse Point but no other duck.
A little after the impoundment there were 4 Rusty Blackbirds flipping leaves along the canal, quite close. Probably where Mike Bowen & friends saw them a couple of weeks ago. Lovely.
There were ~ 100 Gulls mid-river at Blockhouse Point but I did not have a scope (or the competence) to ID them.
Earlier, Hughes Hollow was nice and birdy with most noticeably a cooperative singing Fox Sparrow in nice light, found by Linda Friedland.
Riley's Lock had 3 Pied-billed Grebes, nothing else on the water.
Swain's Lock had nothing on the water but good views of two Pileated Woodpeckers pecking real hard, and my only Hairy Woodpecker of the day. It was a beautiful day to be out!
Happy birding and happy holidays,
Evelyn
Evelyn Ralston
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