Blackwater
Dave Mozurkewich (dm@fornax.usno.navy.mil)
Tue, 17 Feb 1998 21:09:51 -0500 (EST)
I spent Monday morning at Blackwater. I too can be added to the list of
birders who did not see the Golden Eagles that are being reported, despite
looking at a large number of Bald's. In the early morning, some of the
Snow Geese came in close for a while. I got good looks at three Ross
Geese, all white phase adults. At most, I looked at one quarter of the
white geese and it is probable that I did not find all the interesting
geese among the birds I did look through. The total number of Ross Geese
must be truly remarkable.
The three birds I found all looked like good Ross Geese - they were small
birds with blue-based stubby bills and no grinning patch. Also, I no
longer hear reports of Ross x Snow hybrids, despite the rash of such
reports preceding the first accepted record of Ross Goose in Maryland.
This makes me wonder - What is the current status of Ross x Snow Goose
hybrids in Maryland?
I admit that I have not looked through that many white goose flocks in
these parts, but I do not remember ever getting a really good look at a
bird I thought was intermediate - and I only spend time trying to identify
white geese if I can get really good looks. Although I am almost never
absolutely certain about an ID, I think I've seen enough true Ross Geese
out west to eliminate the possibility that I am only seeing Snow Geese and
intermediates here. Or perhaps the intermediates are not intermediate in
the characters I am using to identify the birds.
I wandered around other parts of the county later in the day, ending up at
Elliot Island. A nice day and the rain held off until after dusk, but no
real surprises. Highlights included 2 Palm Warblers at the refuge and two
flocks of quail along the edge of nearby roads. Elliot Island had a
Tricolored Heron at the north end of the marsh, good numbers of Greater
Yellowlegs (5), Blue-winged Teal (30) and Tree Swallows (30) farther south
and a flock of close to 1000 ducks off the boat ramp, mostly Ruddy's. All
birds that spend the winter, but most I associate with the arrival of
spring.
Dave
David Mozurkewich
Seabrook MD USA
dm@fornax.usno.navy.mil