(Fwd) possible Barrow's Goldeneye female at Tanner's Creek

Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Fri, 2 Jan 1998 19:19:00 -0500 

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date:          Fri, 2 Jan 1998 19:09:49 -0500
Reply-to:      Southern Maryland AS discussion <MD-SMAS-GENERAL@LIST.AUDUBON.ORG>
From:          Tyler Bell <BELL@SAY.ACNATSCI.ORG>
Subject:       possible Barrow's Goldeneye female at Tanner's Creek
To:            MD-SMAS-GENERAL@LIST.AUDUBON.ORG

From:   SMTP%"gregorym@erols.com"  1-JAN-1998 16:36:56.55
To:     BELL
CC:
Subj:   smas bird alert! possible b.goldeneye

Message-ID: <34AC0D66.731E5C96@erols.com>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 16:40:54 -0500
From: Gregory B Miller <gregorym@erols.com>
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To: Tyler Bell <bell@say.acnatsci.org>,
        Jane Kostenko <jkostenko@osprey.smcm.edu>
Subject: smas bird alert! possible b.goldeneye
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Seen about 1/2 hr after you guys left :-(

There is a female goldeneye with an entirely yellow bill at point
lookout.  It's located in the bay, just north of the canal (which is
just north of the beach area at the sharp curve at the north end of
the causeway)--if this is gobbledy-gook, it's in the bay (not the
shallow area) near where the swans were this morning <g>.

It's associating with 5 other Am. Goldeneyes (2 male, 3 female).  One
of the other females has 1/2 of the bill tip yellow.  This much yellow
I've seen before.  I have never seen an entirely yellow bill like this
individual.  Unfortunately, we didn't get very close views, so other
subtleties are lacking.  It may have a vaguely lighter chest.  The
back is supposed to be darker, but even with bright sun, this is
tricky.  The other goldeneyes sometimes appeared darker, depending on
how they turned in the light, so this field mark is dubious.  This
individual looks like it shows a little more white in the wing while
sitting on the water. Other than that, I don't have anything else to
go on.  The yellow bill is visible at a very great distance.  It was
actively feeding, and was never up for more than a few seconds.

I tried calling you, but your phone was busy for some time.  I got Tom
Harten called, but I don't have my phone tree list here at home :-<

greg