There was an adult Peregrine Falcon (I think!) perched on a
tree in the swamp along the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park
trail (next to the golf course) in College Park this morning
around 9:30 am.  About 18 Mallards were feeding in the one
pool of unfrozen water directly below the falcon (the
Mallards didn't seem to mind).

ID based on dark broad mustache, white face with black
hooked bill, yellow legs, light patch toward back of head,
primary wing projection as long as tail -- but my vantage
(far below) was a little awkward.  One confusing point: it
seemed to me the belly was streaked (vertical stripes) with
brown, not barred (horizontal stripes), but the lighting
wasn't great.  It certainly wasn't a kestrel (not enough
facial markings).  There was no eyebrow in evidence, which
might otherwise suggest Merlin.  The bird never flew, and I
never saw its back.

D

-- 
Derek C. Richardson, Ph.D. (CANTAB) ________
Astronomy, U Maryland, College Park MD 20742
Tel: Office 301-405-8786 Fax 301-314-9067 __
Home page: http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/ __