Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2003 18:02:04 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Kurt Schwarz Subject: Small Race Canada G. in QA Co. This morning, about 7 a.m. I arrived at the pond where Hans found the Brant yesterday. The pond was covered with several hundred (or was it thousand?) Canada Geese, with several dozen Snow Geese thrown in for good measure. I could not find any Brant. But I did see one tiny Canada Goose, virtually scrambling across the backs of it's larger companions. This bird was about 2/3 the size of the others. Frankly, I didn't note any plumage or neck length. But the size difference was quite obvious. There were also a few Ring-necked Ducks on the pond, and I heard Horned Larks. I then headed to Eastern Neck for the State MOS Board meeting. At 8:30 at the bridge I saw an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in the company of Herrings, 1 or 2 Greater Black-backs, and a few Ring-bills. The Tundra Swans were abundant, as were Pintails. I saw some Black Ducks, but didn't count. Four or five Red-breasted Mergansers were about. Also present were Common Goldeneye and Lesser Scaup. On the mud to the east side were a dozen Killdeer, and half a dozen Dunlin. An immature, possibly first year Bald Eagle flew by. Oh, and two Mute Swans were present when we revisited the spot about 12:30. Bogle's Wharf yielded up rafts of Ruddies, as well as Greater and Lesser Scaup. The view from Refuge HQ had routine gulls, Common Goldeneye, and Bufflehead. After the meeting Walter Elison led a group in search of Red-headed Woodpeckers. Two were found, one adult, on immature, on the Pine something trail. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was also seen. Walter then took us to Great Oak Pond, where we saw Canada Geese, Northern Shovelers, and some other duck (not mallard) that I've forgotten. There was a blizzard of Snow and Canada Geese somewhere between Chestertown and Centreville, but no good place to view it, due to the lay of the land. I revisited the rt. 309 pond about 3:45. Virtually all but 3 of the geese had vacated. There were several Ring-necks and Black Ducks on the pond. A dozen Gadwall flew in while I was there. Good Luck to all the Xmas Counters tomorrow! Stay safe!!!! Kurt Schwarz HowCo goawaybird@comcast.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================