Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 10:40:01 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: John & Cathy Messina Subject: Barnacle Bill Returns Comments: To: Va Bird List MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Saturday, January 26, we were driving to Belle Haven Marina in Alexandria, VA, shortly past 9 am when I looked out the right window and noticed a birder with a scope trained on the golf course south of Hunting Creek. With my naked eyes, I glimpsed the barnacle goose mingling with several Canadas, munching the grass. John and I rapidly parked the car and joined the gentleman, who had been watching the geese for some time. Soon that gaggle was joined by another that contained the hybrid goose with the all-white head and Canada-like body. The whole gang then flew into Hunting Creek just west of the stone bridge. We moved onto the bridge, where the geese lazily swam in binocular range. They were still there when we left. We were so pleased to see the barnacle goose after our previous failed attempts! It was a beautiful sighting on a beautiful day that feels like springtime--several red-winged Blackbirds and chickadees serenaded us as we observed the geese in perfect light. Cathy Messina ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================