Date: 2/16/13 1:59 pm
From: Tim Carney <timmyc83...>
Subject: [MDBirding] About the Ross's Goose in Baltimore


There was a Ross's Goose reported at the end of Red Run Boulevard in Owings Mills. It's easy to find, but distant. Kevin Graff, Richard Edden, and I did our best to look for the identifying field marks through my scope (which doesn't exactly zoom very far) but couldn't really discern bill size. Honestly the bird looked a little big to me, so I wouldn't rule out Snow Goose just yet. Either way, cool bird for Baltimore. If anyone has photos or can definitely ID this bird one way or another, please post.

Some notes on access: The bird is on an athletic field attached to a school. There are VERY CLEAR "No trespassing" signs where the campus meets the edge of the business park. We parked at 10045 Red Run Boulevard and viewed it from the parking lot. A police officer was on duty in the same parking lot and said nothing to us, and eventually drove off while we were still there, so I assume (please correct me if I'm wrong!) it's OK to view the bird from the parking lot after hours and on weekends.

Other interesting Baltimore birds included a drake Canvasback at Canton Waterfront with 12 Lesser Scaup, and a very scraggly Chipping Sparrow at the community gardens in Patterson Park. You know it's slim pickins when a Chipping Sparrow is one of the most interesting birds of the day. Hurry up spring!

Tim Carney
Baltimore/Anne Arundel

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