Date:         Sun, 25 Jan 2004 08:26:58 EST
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Ralph Wall <Dendroica@AOL.COM>
Subject:      C & O Canal--miles 25 and 26
Comments: cc: mike.milton@verizon.net
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The annual C & O Canal winter count yesterday (Sat., Jan.24) covering miles 25 and 26 (which abut the Hughes Hollow area) produced some surprisingly high counts of several wintering species, including 12 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and 14 Brown Creepers.

Although the Potomac River was mostly frozen, the open water produced seven duck species: 12 Black Duck, only 2 Mallards, 22 Lesser Scaup, 1 Common Goldeneye, 12 Bufflehead, 11 Hooded Mergansers, and 5 Common Mergansers.

The highest count award went to American Crow.  A raucous flock of an estimated 500 individuals were spread throughout the trees, over the ground, and on the river ice, a reassuring sign given the West Nile Disease threat to this species.

A total of 36 species were tallied by our three-man team.

Ralph Wall
Great Falls, VA




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