Red-throated Loon on Tridelphia, 1/24/99

Darius Ecker (dariuse@abs.net)
Sun, 24 Jan 1999 18:40:14 -0500


While Darly Olsen and I were doing our assigned count area for the
Montgomery County Midwinter Count, we turned up a single Red-throated Loon
on Tridelphia Reservoir.  It was the only loon we found there, seen from
Greenbridge road along with good numbers of Common Mergansers.

Probably you best shot at seeing this bird would be to go the  Montgomery
County side of Brighton
Dam Road, park in the lot by the dam, and view from the dam.  Do not go into
the area of the dam they have blocked off.  I'm not sure if Greenbridge Road
is open.  We had permission to trespass.

When I did my late afternoon check of the reservoir I noticed the loon
moving over towards the Pigtail area of Howard County so I hopped in my car
and drove over to Pigtail to add it to my Howard County list (really ...
Ellen.... I drifted down hills were ever possible) .  Pigtail is closed at
this time, but I had a "permission to trespass" letter from WSSC. When I
talked with Jo Solem she told me Red-throated Loon had not been on the
Yearly Howard County list since 1991.  I'm not sure what it's Montgomery
County status is ?

Good luck if you try for this bird. Remember... the only area open to the
public to view this bird would be the Montgomery County side of Brighton
Dam.  Howard County residents can reach it by turning left on Haviland Mill
Rd from the Howard side of Brighton Dam road, then right on New Hampshire,
and right again on Brighton Dam Road in Montgomery county.

Good Birding,

Darius Ecker (dariuse@abs.net)

Columbia, Maryland USA

"You almost never find what you set out to see, but you can always
 find something amazing."