5 Dec Excursion
Joseph j Halpin (halpinj@juno.com)
Sat, 6 Dec 1997 21:39:07 -0500
Stan Arnold and I went to the Blackwater and Chincoteague NWRs on this
date. Unfortunately, we learned the hard way that the hunting season has
the BLackwater Reserve closed and the Chincoteague Reserve partially
closed (some areas are off limits all day, others are off limits until
12 or 3 PM. As a consequence we birded the fields a lot on the way. The
weather was rainy until about 1PM.
We did get 65 species for the day to include 2 White Pelicans, a Gannet,
good comparison opportunities for the Red-Throated and Common Loons and
the Pied-Billed and Horned Grebes (this was instructive for me), and a
bunch of Oldsquaw and Black Scoter.
We spotted 2 immature and one adult Bald Eagle, but we were not able to
resolve the question in our minds about the golden color across the back
of one of the immatures; it extended from wing wrist to wing wrist.
Since neither of the books we had showed the top of the Bald or Golden
Eagle in flight we were unable to make a final determination. Anyone
have information to help us?
We scanned the flocks of Snow and Canada Geese, Bleckbirds and Grackles
with no luck. We did not spot any Horned Larks or Lapland Longspurs
either. And we only had 2 species of sparrows for the day.
Incidently, what are the current recommendations for cleaning the lenses
of optics?
Joe Halpin
15208 Redgate Dr
Silver Spring, MD 20905
email: halpinj @juno.com