Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 18:59:36 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Chris Starling Subject: Perry Point 01/06/03 Greetings and Happy New Year Everyone! I didnt do a lot of birding today at work but I did get out on the cross country skis this afternoon. While skiing along a row of tall spruce trees I chanced upon a half eaten C. Grackle (there were constant grackle/blackbird flocks flying over head). The Grackel looked fairly "fresh" so I pished at the trees and flushed a huge accipiter. Initially I thought Cooper's, not thinking of Goshawk. A moment later the 'goshawk flag' went up in my head and I quickly turned to chase it on my skis (not an easy thing to do in wet snow). I never did get a good look at it, though I chased it for nearly 45 minutes. Deciding that it was probably the Cooper's that has been hanging around the VA Complex for the last month or two I decided to let it get back to his/her dinner. Other then that there was not too much to report on. The Eagles remain active and appear to be taking up residence in the nest near the main gate (the nest was vacant last winter). A large gaggle of Canada Geese and mixed Gull flock are enjoying the snow covered fields at the Complex. Finally about 75 Common Mergansers were seen near the Patience Fishing Pier in the AM. Good Birding, Chris Starling North East, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================