Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003 23:02:28 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: David Mozurkewich Subject: Potomac Waterfowl Count -- Long-tailed Duck In-Reply-To: <6.0.1.1.2.20031207212006.01bce460@pop.mail.yahoo.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII I covered Piscataway Park, PG county for the Potomac Waterfowl Count on Saturday, December 6. Variety was good with nineteen species of ducks, geese and swan. Numbers seemed a little low, but to be honest, I rarely try to count the masses. For the count, I reported some 3500 individuals, dominated by Ruddy Ducks (1250), Canada Geese (635), Canvasback (600) and Mallards (430). Some years, Lesser Scaups alone can dwarf this year's total count. The scaup flock was not present on Saturday. Also, for the last couple of years, many of the waterfowl have been hanging out at the mouth of Broad Creek; a location with difficult access and one I haven't visited yet this fall. It's risky drawing conclusions from limited data; I'm looking forward to seeing the complete tally. Highlights for the count were a basic male LONG-TAILED DUCK at the end of Wharf Road; the location where I found a female about a month ago. Also, a Redhead with the Canvasbacks at the same location. Highlights from the waterlogged, non-waterfowl group included a continuing adult Red-HEADED WOODPECKER in the location John Hubble and others reported earlier this season, a female-type PURPLE FINCH (my first for the season) drinking at a puddle with 17 Cardinals, yet another AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, this one in the parking lot for the boardwalk, and numerous Pipits. The pipits included individuals flying along the shore at low tide, a flock of 6 along the boardwalk, and 10 trying to blend in with Canada Geese in last winter's White-fronted Goose field at the National Colonial Farm. I hope at least some of these birds remain in the area for the CBC. After the count, I returned home to find an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk perched on my front porch watching the sunflower feeder for me. Dave David Mozurkewich Seabrook, PG MD USA mozurk @ bellAtlantic.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =======================================================================