In a message dated 11/20/2004 1:14:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
 writes:

I saw  the Red-throated Loon at Black Hill Regional Park first reported by 
Bob  Ringler on Thursday.  It was visible from the pontoon dock area near the 
 
nature center, at a distance of a few hundred feet.  Initially it was  
diving, but then it stayed on the lake surface most of the time.   Other 
species and numbers were comparable to Bob Ringler's report.  A  male Wood 
Duck was a species he didn't mention.

Rob  Hilton



Hi all,
 Our trip to Black Hill today was successful, as far as seeing the  RTLO. It 
was first spotted early from the deck at the visitor center by Andy  Martin, 
way across the lake from our position, near the Rt. 121 bridge. We left  the 
visitor center and went there, and now the bird had disappeared. We spent a  
good long while searching for it, finally figuring a fisherman in a boat had  
spooked it. We then went to the boat ramp area (home of the Big Sit), where we  
had a pair of Wood Ducks and many Mallards (and a sunning turtle). At this 
point  I got a call from Dave Powell who had left us to look for the loon, and he 
had  spotted it back at the pontoon boat docks near the visitor center. We 
raced back  over there, and met up with him and Rob Hilton and got good looks at 
the bird as  it swam, fished and finally settled down to preen. 
 
After this we headed over to the area behind the police hdqtrs, and had  nice 
looks at singing Fox Sparrows, as well as about a half dozen White-crowned  
Sparrows, along with other usual birds. We broke up shortly after noon, and  
while the rest headed home I went back to the visitor center for another look at 
 the loon. It was still where we had it earlier, but a passing boat spooked 
it  into the deeper part of the lake, where I lost sight of it. A pair of adult 
 TUNDRA SWANS were swimming out in the middle of the lake, which we missed  
earlier. 
 
Other birds of interest; many Bufflehead and Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy  Ducks, 
both Pied-billed and Horned Grebes (3 & 1), A. Coots, Great Blue  Herons, and 
kingfishers. A total lack of any raptors (except 1 Cooper's  Hawk) and few 
woodpeckers or finches (other than goldfinch). A rather slow  morning, more than 
made up for by the Red-throated Loon, a county bird for most  and a lifer for 
some!
 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD