Re: [MDOsprey] Piscataway Creek and Nat'l Colonial Farm
Dovekie7@aol.com
Sun, 21 Nov 1999 00:31:08 EST
In a message dated 11/20/99 3:49:21 PM Eastern Standard Time,
paulas@erols.com writes:
<< Larry Cartwright and I spent Saturday morning visiting three locations
along the Maryland side of the Potomac River in Prince Georges County.
Most of the ducks had fled the hunters, so Piscataway Creek at the end
of Wharf Road was disappointing. Only one Red-breasted Merg, a
Cormorant, a small flock of Ruddies, a few Mallards, a couple Great
Blues, and gulls stuck it out there. We did find a few goodies to make
the trip worth it. Besides Wharf Road, we stopped at Piscataway Park off
Bryan Point Rd. and the National Colonial Farm. We tallied 44 species.
>>
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A friend and I went to Piscataway today. We had a productive day there last
week and returned this morning. We were puzzled why there were no waterfowl.
A few Ruddies and Pintails were along the creek before you get to the park
along with a few GBH. Piscataway has always had high numbers of ducks. We
hiked the trail around the first marsh area. The best birds we sited along
that trail were Brown Thrasher and Cedar Waxwings. I was hoping that the
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker we saw last week would still be around.
I kept hearing gun shots in the distance and became quite disturbed. We hiked
the whole trail and sited the usual common birds. One sighting of a small
flock of Bluebirds was very nice. In addition there were at least 3 imm. Bald
Eagles and one mature. as We approached the far end of the trail we got
separated due to my stopping to investigate some noises in the brush. I was
startled to hear the gun fire again and it was very loud. I called my friend
and we went to the water's edge to see what was happening. I was sickened to
see this in a state park. Hunters were shooting Bufflehead and if they were
not dead they were beating them over their head with an oar. This was
happening right off shore in Piscataway Park. Is this legal? We hurriedly
left because they seemed to be shooting in all directions and I did not want
to be mistaken for a Common Merganser.
Abbie Banks/Bowie