Date:         Fri, 30 Jan 2004 15:48:45 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Les Roslund <lroslund@BLUECRAB.ORG>
Subject:      Snow Goose and Drama on Leeds Creek
In-Reply-To:  <000401c3e75a$ffd72ab0$462f4845@DOWNSTAIRS>
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        Moments ago (1/30 3:30 p.m.) as the dog and I were restocking my feeders some 4000 Canada Geese chose now as the time to return to the 2000-Goose-sized open water spot on Leeds Creek in front of my place.  = As the last few were arriving I heard something hit the ice to my left - glancing over, here came a desperate female Mallard with an adult Bald = Eagle in hot pursuit.  I believe the eagle had hit the ice as it initially = dove toward the duck - with another dive that I saw, the duck was slightly = hit, but still sped toward a tiny open spot at the edge of the open water - = it hit that water at full speed - so fast that the duck made a full = breast-down flip - landing on its back in the water as the eagle pulled up - having missed!  Probably a sore, but very lucky duck is out there right now.
        Careful inspection after the duck event revealed that the 4000-Goose flock was actually 3999 Canadas and one lone white phase Snow Goose.  = This part of Talbot County gets very few Snow Geese - this one was the year's first at this site.
        Other ducks still here today include: 2 Blacks (new arrivals on 1/29), a female Canvasback, around 10 Ring-necks, around 15 Lesser = Scaup, two Ruddies and one Pintail.
        In the yard - one Pine Siskin is still here; several Fox Sparrows, and the driveway feeding group this morning included eight Towhees, = eight Cardinals, six Blue Jays, 30 White-throats and 2 Song Sparrows - = providing a very pretty sight.

Les Roslund
Lroslund@bluecrab.org
Talbot County
Easton MD 21601

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