Hi Everybody:
Last evening (5/7) I led the 2nd of 4 walks scheduled for the Montgomery
Bird Club (and ANS). As usual we started at Riley's Lock (C & O Canal
towpath) to scan the Potomac River. For a brief time there was a single
COMMON MERGANSER in close. Ducks were minimal, but we did see 6 PIED-BILLED
GREBES and 5 HORNED GREBES.Four of the Horned Grebes stayed in a very tight
group for the 30 minutes that we were there. We also noticed (via scope)
that several of the GREAT BLUE HERON nests on the far side of the river
opposite Violette' Lock already had activity with several great Blues
flying into and sitting on the nests.
Our next stop was Hughes Hollow where we saw 3 drake AMERICAN WIGEONS and 2
HOODED MERGANSERS in the Eastern impoundment. On the western side closest
to the parking lot we saw 15 RING-NECKED DUCKS (only one female). There
were 2 TREE SWALLOWS flying about and calling most of the time. Ducks
flying into the far western impoundment included WOOD DUCKS and several
more HOODED MERGANSERS.
Last stop was on Sycamore Landing Road was for AMERICAN WOODCOCK display.
We only saw/heard 3 different birds but were definitely rewarded with
quality. We had one woodcock that flew into the field from a hedgerow and
landed about 50 feet in front of us. We all (myself plus three) enjoyed the
bird through our binoculars watching him change directions as it was
"Peenting". This particular woodcock made at least 6 aerial flights and
landed each time within 30-60 feet of us allowing us to find him in the
grass just about every time (some of the best views that even I have had in
several years). The first vocalization heard was at 6:24 pm and the last
was at 6:48 pm.
Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD
work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!
P.S. The next two trips are schedule for March 12 and March 19 (both
Tuesday evenings - starting at 5 PM at Riley's Lock). Anybody is welcome to
join us and no reservations are needed. Feel free to email me or call me if
you have any questions (301-742-0036). No reservations, just show up.
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