Bob Augustine and I drove over to the Elms environmental area in St. Mary's County on Christmas Day. We hiked into the first area where Tyler Bell suggested we should look for the bird. The water was pretty choppy and the Goldeneye were further north than they were last year. Even so, we set up the big scope and started scanning.
After about 45 minutes, Bob actually found the bird, and we both had a quick but clear look. It was the male Barrows Goldeneye. Bob was able to get a couple of distant images on his camera.
We then moved up to the more northerly vantage point suggested by Tyler Bell where unfortunately we had no luck at all.
There were lots of Common goldeneye (often flying around), lots of Buffleheads, some Red-breasted mergansers, and a couple of Long-tailed ducks. We also had several flyby Northern gannets and a brown pelican.
Earlier at Point Lookout, there were lots of Surf and Black scoters close to the road driving out, along with Buffleheads, Long-tailed ducks, and several more flyby Gannets.
Great way to spend Christmas Day !
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Virginia
Sent from my iPad
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