Susquehanna Sunday Birding
Les Eastman (les_eastman@netfox.net)
Sun, 16 Nov 1997 15:06:11 -0500
I did my normal Sunday morning birding up the Susquehanna River today.
On my way down to Havre de Grace, I stopped at Lapidum landing where I
found nothing. At Havre de Grace, I found the usual American Coots and
Mallards, a Ruddy Duck, a few Bufflehead, 1 Bald Eagle and a few gulls
and DC Cormorants. I then met Joe Halpin and his wife (sorry Mrs.
Halpin, I am terrible at remembering names) and we continued on up the
river. Our next stop was at the mouth of Deer Creek where we saw an
adult Bald Eagle, a Forster's Tern, some Canada Geese and Mallards. I
was hoping for some diving ducks, but didn't see any. Next we stopped
for the Red-headed Woodpecker, but was disappointed that it did not
appear. We did get nice looks at a Red-tailed Hawk and some black
Vultures there. Then on to Conowingo Dam where we saw a Peregrine
Falcon! At one point he was harassing a Black Vulture. We also saw 5
gull species - Ringed-billed, Herring, Greater Black-backed, Laughing
and Bonaparte's. Black-legged Kittiwake and Black-headed Gull have been
reported up river, so I was looking over the flocks carefully, but could
find either of those. We also saw at least 5 Bald Eagles, probably more
like 7 or 8. Then we went up on Conowingo Lake to look for the Pacific
Loon. When we got there, Harvey Mudd reported that someone had seen the
loon an hour earlier from 20 feet away! But it had quickly moved
further off and he lost track of it. We saw several Common Loons, but no
Pacific. Then Joe was getting cold and I had to pick up my daughter, so
we called it a day at about 12 noon.
Les
======================
Les Eastman
les_eastman@netfox.net
Havre de Grace, MD