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