Conowingo: Thayers et al.

rick (rblom@blazie.com)
Sun, 31 Jan 1999 13:48:05 -0500 

        Ralph Cullison, Beth Olson, and I covered Conowingo on the winter
count on Saturday, January 30. Other birders dropped in at various times
during the day. Highlghts included:

Pileated Woodpecker             1 (on trail below dam: not rare but fun)
Common Merganser                10,000+ (above dam in morning)
Redhead                         1 (above dam in morning)
Lesser Black-backed Gull        5 (2 ad; 1 4th; 1 2nd; 1 1st)
THAYER'S GULL                   1 (1st winter)
Swan ?                          4 (see below)

        The river is high and all generators were running and several flood
gates were open partway. About 10,000 gulls were present, about 2-1
Ring-billed to Herring, but there were large numbers of young Herrings
present. All of the interesting gulls were seen at the dam, where activity
was greatest early and late. There were huge numbers of waterfowl above the
dam in the morning, when it was calm. In the afternoon, when the wind was
up and the lake was choppy, there were virtually none.
        THAYER'S GULL: The 1st winter bird was seen sitting and flying in
the area at the base of the dam in late afternoon, the same circumstances
in which it was seen earlier in the week. We had rather lengthy and decent
views this time. A possible 2nd winter bird was seen very briefly in flight
and for a longer period sitting on the wall, but I was unable to persuade
myself with sufficient certainty and we did not include it. It appears to
be the same bird seen by Bryan Monk earlier in the week and may well be a
Thayer's, although the identification of birds at that age and late in the
winter is more than difficult.
        SWANS: Early in the day three swans flew low upriver and out of
sight above the dam. Given the circumstances they were recorded as
unidentified. A single bird flew over in mid afternoon, going north but
fairly low and called twice, both typical Trumpeter notes. It was not seen
(we were along the trail and could not see it through the trees). Despite
the distinctiveness of the call, I recorded it at the time as Swan sp. but
do not know how the others will report it.
        They were working on the roof of the main building and no
Peregrines were seen, although they were there the day before. Eagle
numbers were average, about 20, but there were more adults than we usually
see - about half of the birds seen. There were virtually no waterfowl below
the dam. Landbirds were scarce along the trail, although we did have a
middle of the day Screech Owl calling near the boardwalk.

Rick


"A great many people now reading and writing would be better employed
keeping rabbits." Edith Sitwell


Rick Blom
rblom@blazie.com
4318 Cowan Place
Belcamp, Maryland 21017
(410)575-6086