SUSQUEHANNA REPORT FOR NOV. 8, 1997

Rick Blom (rblom@blazie.com)
Sun, 9 Nov 1997 08:01:26 -0500 

        I was simply too tired last night to post the results of the
Pacific Loon search on the Susquehanna. Besides, lots of news was flowing.
This is a report on the birds seen that day, at least until mid afternoon.
Obsevers were many but this includes mostly the birds I saw. All
observations were either at Conowingo Dam or on the lake above the dam for
a distance of about 2 miles.

Common Loon                     15
RED-THROATED LOON               110+
PACIFIC LOON                    0 (but see below)
Pied-billed Grebe               5
Horned Grebe                    6
Double-crested Cormorant        65
Bald Eagle                      8 (2 ads; 6 imms)
OSPREY                          1 (late)
Canada Goose                    4
SNOW GOOSE                      0 (see below)
ROSS' GOOSE                     0 (see below)
Mallard                         15+
Black Duck                      20+
Green-winged Teal               15
American Wigeon                 15 (by Hal Wierenga)
Wood Duck                       8
Scaup sp.                       200 (one Greater, others unknown)
Ring-necked Duck                15 (by Hal Wierenga)
BLACK SCOTER                    9
SURF SCOTER                     8
Red-breasted Merganser          15
Bonaparte's Gull                100
Ring-billed Gull                250
Herring Gull                    75
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL        1 (adult at base of dam)
Great Black-backed Gull         75
FORSTER'S TERN                  2
Tree Swallow                    3

        There was a smattering of expected landbirds.
        This was a significant crash of Red-throated Loons, with only one
present the day before. The total reported is certainly low and there could
easily have been 200. At least 5 were in partial breeding plumage, with
large red patches on the neck. This is probably the highest inland count
ever in Maryland.
        The Pacific Loon was not found in Maryland but reappered just over
the border in Pennsylvania late in the day. It is apparently moving about
on the lower stretch of the river.
        Hal Wierenga called me late last night to report that they had a
single flock of 65 Red-throated Loons on the river after I left. He also
said that late in the day there were "hundreds" of Snow Geese flying south
down the river. In one flock was a bird that was almost certainly a Ross'
Goose, based on size and shape.
        Several observers reported a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and a BLACK SCOTER
at the Lapidum boat ramp south of the dam.
        In the area where the Pacific Loon was refound yesterday, Bob
Schutsky had an innature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE.
        The Susquehanna in bad weather in November is an amazing bird magnet.

Rick




Rick Blom
rblom@blazie.com
Bel Air, Maryland

"Did St. Francis preach to the birds? Whatever for? If he really liked
birds he would have done better to preach to the cats."
Rebecca West