There was only a moderate amount of gulls at Conowingo Friday, November 12. The common species were present, including at least 15 Bonapartes (with at least 80 more above the dam, with two Forster’s terns). Bald Eagle watching was spectacular. I counted 30 for the day, although I almost surely saw more. (It eventually got hard to tell whether I saw each individual before or not). The big surprise for me was a greater white-fronted goose, which flew in with a Canada. It appeared to be a first-winter bird, just beginning to get the white line behind the beak. The beak was bright orange, suggesting the Greenland race. Other treats at Conowingo included a merlin (which I was able to admire through my scope as it filled the field of view), an osprey (the yellow book suggests that this is getting a little late for ospreys to remain), and *singing* winter wrens. I stopped at Sesquehanna State Park on the way back and picked up a few more species including creeper, both kinglets, and, as I tried in vain examining pine thickets for a saw-whet owl, I discovered four hermit thrushes hiding quietly. Speaking of saw-whet owls, I did find a dead one along the road above Conowingo dam. (A dead raccoon lay beside it.) While above the dam, I also saw an interesting loon. It was probably a red-throated, since it was abviously smaller than the two common loons with which it was traveling, its bill was slender and dark, and not as long as the common loons’ bills. However, the plumage had a surprise. Overall, the bird appeared to be in basic plumage. But, beginning on the cheek, a dark line about one inch wide proceeded down the neck and to the shoulder. It made quite a contrast to the white throat and lighter crown and nape. The stripe confused me when I first saw the bird. For curiosity’s sake, I would be interested to know whether anyone else ever spotted a loon with such a transitional plumage. Don Burggraf Baltimore ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com