Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 20:14:47 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "Kurt R. Schwarz" Subject: Leucistic Ring-neck in HowCo Dropped into Centennial Park this afternoon in hopes the Nor'easter might drop something unusual, a scoter, Bonaparte's, whatever. No dice there, but what I found was totally unexpected. There, consorting with a male Ring-necked Duck was a leucistic one! The bird was the same size, same head shape as its companion. Largely white, with a dark wash over the back of the neck onto crown, on the ?scapulars?, and bit on the breast. Bill was darkish gray, lighter at the tip. If it looks like a Ring-neck, dives like a Ring-neck, quacks like a Ring-neck.... I'm told a similar bird has been seen recently in HowCo, but can't imagine why it hasn't been posted yet. Last seen at 5:15 p.m. Use the South entrance to the park of Rt. 108 west from 29, turn right into park at 2nd light. Take first right, pull into area by boat ramp. Bird was last seen in the cove on the far side, go right from the boat ramp. I don't exactly what time the park opens, but gates should be open by 7 a.m. Good luck. Other birds of note: Ring-necked Ducks (more traditional variety) 8-9, 2 of which female Bufflehead 3 male, 2 female Canvasback 1 female Black Duck 1 (eagerly pursued by 3 male mallards whose duck i.d. skills were worse than mine!) Am. Robin 20+ enjoying the rain and worms on a lawn. Kurt Schwarz Howard County white-crown@home.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =======================================================================