Greetings all, I spent a pleasant morning this Thursday at Piney Run, looking at ducks n'things, including over 400 American Coot, Hooded Merganser, Ruddies, Black Duck, Bufflehead, Am. Wigeon, Ring-necks, a pair of Pied-billed Grebes, Gadwall and --- at the limits of my scope --- what I decided were probably Greater Scaup, but I would appreciate any confirmation if anyone gets out that way. They were nicely round-headed, not at all like the Ring-necks (or Lesser Scaup), and I had an impression that two females had substantial white on the front of the face. On another point: I was startled to see one each of Tundra and Mute Swan on the lake. They were keeping company with a couple of domestic geese and a trio of hybrid mystery-geese, which leads me to suspect that they are pinioned residents. Does anyone know? I just read that the Pacific Loon has still been hanging around Conowingo. Guess I'm going to have to make a run up there to try again. Wish me luck. Lou Nielsen Reisterstown, MD clodvigii@aol.com