Fond echoes of winter...

Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Sat, 6 Mar 1999 15:08:43 -0500


Yes, yes, the birds are singing, spring is springing....grin.  But this morning
Fran and I had a pleasant winter visitor almost jump onto our state lists.

After a quick visit to Sandgates to say hi to the Kelp Gull and to Jane 
Kostenko, we drove rapidly down Rt. 235 to the Patuxent Naval Air
Station where we met Doug Lister (along with his 18-month-old who has
a longer state list than I do, I think) who escorted us most
graciously onto the Naval Base where we got outstanding close-up looks
at the Barrow's Goldeneye schmoozing with a flock of Common
Goldeneye in the Patuxent River.  What a wonderful bird!

To Doug--thanks again for helping us see this gorgeous and totally 
unexpected addition to our MD lists!

After leaving the Naval Air Station we headed down to Point Lookout in 
search of the reported Greater White-fronted Goose, which we dipped on.
We did, however, find a flock of 26 Common Snipe bathing and feeding in
field puddles along Camp Brown Road.

Turning upriver once again we arrived at Tyler & Jane's place in time for 
some lunch and more good long looks at the Kelp Gull.  I managed to 
shoot off another two rolls of film on this wonderfully cooperative 
fellow before we sidled on home.

NOW we can start listening to the spring birds...smile!

Norm

===============
Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net