Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 20:10:09 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Stan Arnold Subject: Waterbirds, Howard & QA counties MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Folks, Spent some time making rounds mostly in Howard Co. and Queen Anne's Co. these past two days. No prizes to report, just a bit of what's showing up where (as I search for GWF Goose, and misplaced ducks). Here's a rundown: Wed., 21 Nov, Howard Co.: LAKE ELKHORN: GREAT EGRET (1), Mallard (2), Ring-necked Duck (4), Ruddy Duck (5), Am. Coot (1) FULTON POND: just Canada Geese (ca 100) and Killdeer (9) GREENBRIDGE (MoCo/HoCo): Bufflehead (11) Larryland Ponds along Rte 94 had nothing but a few Canadas DAISY RD. PONDS (near Rte 144): Canada Goose (ca 400), Am. Black Duck (22), Hooded Merganser (5) EMMAUS RD. (near Morgan Stn Rd. at Rte 144): Canada Goose (ca 75), Ring-necked Duck (1), Hooded Merganser (4) MEADOWBROOK had Song, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned (8) Sparrows, but no waterfowl Thur., 22 Nov, a.m., Queen Anne's Co.: RTE 213 POND, near US 301: Canada Goose (200), Gadwall (3), Lesser Scaup (1) S. SIDE OF RTE 309 (a short distance east of the "big" pond on north side, which had no waterfowl this morning): Common Snipe (6), a few Killdeer BAY, FROM KENT ISLAND: Common Loon (3), Horned Grebe (3), Tundra Swan (12), hundreds of Canadas, about 35 scaup, sp., from a distance Thur, 22 Nov, p.m., Howard/Montgomery Co. TRIADELPHIA RES., GREENBRIDGE RD.: Am. Black Duck (54), LONG-TAILED DUCK (1), Bufflehead (11), Common Goldeneye (3: 1m 2f), about 50 Canada Geese at north end of lake, Bald Eagle, adult (1), Cooper's Hawk (1). Thanks to Nancy Magnusson for the heads up on the Triadelphia waterfowl. When I got there at about 3:45 p.m. today, the Buffleheads, goldeneye, and long-tail were all in a tight group, straight out from the Greenbridge boat ramp, on the far (Ho Co) side of the lake. This group of 15 ducks stayed in a tight group in approximately the same area the entire time I was there. The sun was just setting as I was returning to my car, walking down into the "hollow" where the canoes are kept at Greenbridge. A large bird flew across my path and into a tree ahead of me. I knew it was a Barred Owl, probably one I had heard on several previous visits to that location. It sat in almost plain sight, so I took the scope off my shoulder, and focused it on this grand bird. For ten minutes I gazed at the owl, as it pivoted its head more than 300 degrees, first over its left shoulder to look at me, and then all the way around over its right shoulder. When it looked at me, its eyes would blink slowly, and its countenance conveyed to me that this was a creature of inteligence. I marveled at its deep black eyes, its yellow beak, its ominous talons, and every feather on its body. Alas, it was time to leave. I knew I would flush the owl as I moved closer, but when it flew, it perched in an even more open position, and I couldn't resist setting up the scope one more time to gawk at this impressive creature. And there I left it, seemingly unbothered by my departure, as I threw a few final glances over my shoulder till trees finally obstructed my view. In the dimming light of the late afternoon, I stopped one more time along Ten Oaks Rd., very near Rte 108 (Clarksville), and scoped a large group of several hundred geese out in a field. Alas, they were all Canadas. Stan Arnold Glen Burnie blackrail@earthlink.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================