Hi Folks,

I spent a couple hours this morning (Sat., 1/15) checking most of the ponds
that line the Patapsco River between I-195 and Belle Grove Ave., mostly in
Anne Arundel Co., but some in Baltimore Co.  The variety of waterfowl was a
little better than usual.  All of the ponds were flooded following
yesterday's inundation, but most had birdlife.  Ponds 6 & 8 were not
visited, due to difficult access (they don't usually offer much) and Ponds 1
and 9 had no birds.  The tally (from east to west):

ANNE ARUNDEL CO.:

    Pond 14 (Belle Grove Rd., accessed from Am. Legion post):
Ring-billed Gull--25

    Pond 13 (Belle Grove Rd., viewed from Malibu's Restaurant, and also
accessed from state park gate):
Great Blue Heron--1
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER--pair
Ring-billed Gull--ca 35
Great Black-backed Gull--1

    Pond 12 (Belle Grove Rd., accessed from state park gate):
Great Blue Heron--2
Ring-billed Gull--1

    Pond 11 (Nursery Rd., just west of B&A Blvd):
Mallard--ca 20
GREEN-WINGED TEAL--8
RING-NECKED DUCK--1 female
Cooper's Hawk--pair, one making loud vocalizations
B. Kingfisher--1

    Pond 10 (Nursery Rd., accessed from Barkwood Ct., behind business park):
Canada Goose--2
Mallard--4
N. SHOVELER--3
HOODED MERGANSER--21
Ring-billed Gull--15

    Pond 7 (River Rd., just off of Nursery Rd.):
Canada Goose--2

    Pond 3 (River Rd., accessed from pull-off across from a house):
GADWALL--3
Mallard--15
HOODED MERGANSER--1
B. Kingfisher

    Pond 2 (accessed through CSX gate off Furnace Rd., under I-195):
Canada Goose--83
GADWALL--22
GREEN-WINGED TEAL--4
B. Kingfisher--1
there were also two large Canada Geese with a lot of white on back of head;
probably have domestic ancestors

BALTIMORE CO.:

    Ponds 4&5 (Halethorpe Farms Pond/Big Halethorpe Pond at end of
Halethorpe Farms Rd.):
Canada Goose--ca 30
GADWALL--15
Mallard--20
COMMON MERGANSER--1 male
HOODED MERGANSER--3
Bald Eagle--1 adult
Ring-billed Gull--15

    Southwest Area Park had only Canada Geese and Mallards, and a single
kingfisher.  Surprisingly, there were no Am. Black Ducks, which are usually
present.

    Yesterday afternoon (1/14) I visited Fort Armistead, AA Co. (under the
Key Bridge), and it offered only:
DC CORMORANT--dozens
BUFFLEHEAD--a dozen or two scattered around
RUDDY DUCK--ca 10 in one group under pilings
plenty of Ring-billed, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls

Good luck to all who will be out looking for birds this weekend.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie