Date: 2/22/13 10:48 am
From: Neil Rothschild <neil.rothschild98...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Ross's Goose - Yes today and some access issues


I visited the pond behind 10065 Red Run Drive 5 times the past 2 days and
did not see the ROGO. Today, at about 11:30am, I drove around the front of
McDonough School and quickly located it, while driving McDonough Rd, on the
large grassy grounds between the two drive ways.



While I was on the walking path around the pond I ran into the property
owner, who acted friendly and was interested in what was going on "with that
goose". I explained the situation, described the bird and its normal
west-central migration path, and explained that since it is a county record
there were a lot of lists to get checked off J. Plus being a very good
state bird too.



When we concluded the discussion I asked him straight out: "do you have any
problems with birders coming here to view the goose?". He answered that as
long as people were behaving themselves and not doing anything to annoy or
concern the tenants in the buildings that it was fine with him. Of course,
the pond and the walking path is owned by McDonough School, not the business
park.



I happen to be a long time software contractor with the occupant of building
10065, adjacent to the short "path" to the pond. I do not personally know
anyone in that building; I deal with an out of state corporate facility.
However, via my contacts I asked if it was ok for *me* to access the pond,
and at least now they know, first hand, why all those people are so
interested in that pond this week. If I'm going to potentially get into a
trespass issue, I would rather it not be one of my clients J. Anyway, they
are fine with me, to the extent they have any say over anything, and they
did not relay anything to me suggesting that other birders would be any
problem with them. They had noticed the unusual number of pond visitors
but did not know what it was all about.



I mention this just to describe my own dealings with this matter, which have
been very good so far. I have had no dealings with the school.



Yesterday I got some nice images of a Hermit Thrush at the pond, sitting in
some brush at the edge of the pond's perimeter walkway near the "entrance".
This morning I saw a small flock of about a half dozen or more WTSP
scratching through the leaves, with one very brave soul perched on a branch
and staring at me, not 30 feet away. Plus a very brief visual look at a
sparrow I was unable to ID, but it was very drab medium to dark-medium
brownish (not a Chipper, for example). No white eyebrow. That sparrow was
mixed with the WTSP. Not bad for this time of year, and worth a quick look
around when you are looking for the ROGO.



Neil







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