Late this afternoon I got a call from Dave Harvey.  He and Maureen had been to Piney Run Park and counted 107 Common Loons on the lake.  He was unable to make an internet connection to make the report himself.
    A little while later Bill Ellis called.  He was at Liberty Lake and was looking at over 200 loons.  After a quick supper I went out and joined him.  The final tally at Liberty was 235 Common Loons with about 220 in one flock.  Other birds there included 2 Horned Grebes, 42 Double-crested Cormorants, 9 Common Mergansers, and a Coot.  A flock of 120 Fish Crows flew over heading to roost somewhere to the east.
    During my own wanderings in Washington and Frederick counties I found the following:

In Washington County: at Big Pool:  Canada Goose 30, Wood Duck 2, Baldpate 3, Red-breasted Merganser 12 (all females), Common Loon 23, Horned Grebe 1, Double-crested Cormorant 8, Bald Eagle 1 (adult), Coot 4.  At Dam #5:  Wood Duck 2, Mallard 2, Double-crested Cormorant 15.

In Frederick County: at Kershner's Pond near Burkittsville:  Canada Goose 5, Black Duck 30, Mallard 8, Blue-winged Teal 4, Green-winged Teal 6, Common Merganser 1, Red-breasted Merganser 1, Ruddy Duck 7, Common Loon 3.

    Quite a day for loons.


Bob Ringler
Eldersburg, Md


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