Happy New Year!

And what better way to start it off than with a life bird, the TRUMPETER SWAN at Black Hill Regional Park?

It was evident immediately from the parking area at the MD 121 bridge, by its very large size.  Its back appeared evenly rounded, as Sibley indicates.  It lacked any yellow in its lores, and its beak appeared to be long, straight, with the edge of its base at the gape also appearing to be straight, rather than having the sharp curve of a Tundra.

It failed to reveal where it came from, despite repeated attempts to commune with it.

Among the many waterfowl keeping it company were:

Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Canada Goose
Ruddy Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Scaup species (Greater?)
Canvasback
Common Goldeneye
American Coot
Bufflehead
Oldsquaw

Others saw Eared Grebe and Redhead.

Ring-billed Gull were also present, as were:
Great Blue Heron
Northern Mockingbird

Later, I went over to the backside beyond the Visitor Center, where I heard, but did not see, Red-headed Woodpecker (thanks Rick!) and did see:
Carolina Wren
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal.

On my way to Black Hill, I saw Turkey Vulture and Red-shouldered Hawk along River Road, then headed for Hughes Road where a flock of Horned Lark were in the field to the east, just north of the horse ring (to the west).

Did not find the Sand Hill Crane, after looking in the fields by the Poolesville Golf Course and to the east of the town.

Good birding in the New Year,

--
Frank Powers
Glen Echo, MD
Montgomery County