Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 13:07:46 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Sherman Suter Subject: DC: Tufted Duck (Sun 30 Jan; 1210 to 1300 EST) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The adult, male, alternate plumage Tufted Duck was present amongst the = Lesser Scaup and other ducks in the Potomac at the mouth of Four Mile run = (off the NE shore of Daingerfield Island). When I arrived c 1210, I found = a small group of birders at the S end of the Washington Sailing Marina = boat ramp (SE of the resaurant) who had been watching the bird. I spotted = it within a couple of minutes of slow searching through the scattered = flocks of scaup and other diving ducks. Watched continuously for ten or = so minutes (during which it was constantly in motion, either on the = surface or diving), then on and off until 1300, at distances down to c 70 = m. Even even had it in the air for 30-45 seconds when something caused c = half the ducks off the marina to briefly take to the air, swirl about, and = drop back in.=20 Despite intervals of freezing rain and sleet, I managed to keep both my = binocualars and scope from fogging up or icing over. So I managed several = intervals of good looks (including views of the bill: grey with black tip = that extended proximally about the small nail and was bordered by a thin = white ring that had a gradual, not sharp, proximal edge). When not watching the Tufted Duck, I scanned the other ducks from near the = boar ramp and also from closer to the restaurant. Estimated numbers = (easily could have missed many): Canada Goose 6 (flyover) American Black Duck 35 Mallard 425 (many in tightly packed flocks on ice W of landing light = pier) Canvasback 23 Redhead 16 Ring-necked Duck 8 Tufted Duck 1 male Greater Scaup 2 males (may have overlooked females) Lesser Scaup 320 Bufflehead 110 Hooded Merganser 16 Common Merganser 2 Ruddy Duck 45 American Coot 30+ Sherman Suter Alexandria VA 22307 ssuter@aaas.org=20 =20 ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================