Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 22:06:04 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Black Hills Regional Park I visited Black Hills Regional Park in Montgomery County this afternoon in an attempt to see the Harlequin Duck. In the area around the visitor's center, while I didn't see this duck, there were large numbers of geese, Ring Necked Ducks, Buffleheads, Canvasbacks, Coots, 2 Hooded Mergansers, and Common Goldeneye. My wife pointed out a "funny looking" goose very close to the shore among the many Canada Geese. I got good looks at the bird and it appeared to be a Barnacle X Canada Goose hybrid. It had a tan body, white rump, brown breast, black neck and top of head, large white face patch, and black bill. In other news, the Whooper Swan has continued at Schoolhouse Pond through yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. I did not check today. The bird always offers spectacular views in the open water by the boardwalk. The bird does not appear to have been banded. Fred Shaffer Crofton, MD pamthePT@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================