Hi Everyone,

Jim Brighton and I braved the cold, rain, and incredible fog to spend what
turned out to be a fantastic weekend of birding out west. It seems we chose
THE weekend to look for waterfowl in Garrett and Allegany Counties.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs are moving through in large numbers (one of the most
common ducks this trip), and we had 21 species of waterfowl despite missing
a few more expected birds. I'm OK with trading shoveler and pintail for SURF
and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERs!

I wondered what I'd gotten myself into on Saturday morning as I drove
through some of the worst fog I've ever encountered, but when one of your
first birds of the day is RUFFED GROUSE, things start looking up!

Below are some of the highlights. Jim will probably post some other birds
seen after we parted ways this afternoon.

Cackling Goose - A great surprise in a field of Canada Geese (and ~10 Am.
Wigeon, which we found odd) on Paul Friend Rd, off Rte. 219. (3/26)
Tundra Swan - 1 juvenile at Rocky Gap. (3/26)
Wood Ducks - Nearly ubiquitous; at LEAST 200 were present on Savage River
Reservoir when Jim visited in the morning; 100+ when I returned with him.
(3/26)
Blue-winged Teal - Several locations in Garrett. (3/26)
Canvasback - 1 hen/juvenile near the Rte. 219 bridge over Deep Creek Lake.
(3/26)
Redheads - 13 at same location (3/26). Also at McCagh's Pond on Mason Road
west of Rocky Gap in Allegany County. Thanks to Ray Kiddy for showing us
this great spot, and to J.B. Churchill for finding them :)
Surf Scoters - Jim spotted 3 at Jennings Randolph Lake (3/26).
White-winged Scoter - 1 beautiful adult male at Rocky Gap. Another thanks to
Ray and J.B.! (3/27)
Long-tailed Ducks - 5 at Rocky Gap, 3 at McCagh's Pond. (3/27)
Common Goldeneye - 4 (2d/2h) at Savage River Reservoir. (3/26)
Red-breasted Mergansers - Everywhere. (3/26 and 3/27)
* Duck no-shows: Shoveler, Pintail, and Ruddy Duck
Ruffed Grouse - Southern Garrett County. (3/26)
Wild Turkeys - Nice group of 19 standing around in the fog. (3/26) 
Common Loons - Several locations, coming into breeding plumage. (3/26 and
3/27)
Horned Grebes - Ditto
Rough-legged Hawk - Flyby near Cranesville Swamp. (3/26)
Wilson's Snipe - Calling mid-day near the WWTP on Pleasant Valley Road.
(3/26)
American Woodcock - Peeanting loudly and at length in my atlas block (along
Rte. 135 between Chestnut Grove Rd. and Walnut Bottom Rd.). (3/26)
Bonaparte's Gulls - About 10 at Rocky Gap. (3/26)
Herring Gull - 1 imm. seen from Glendale Rd bridge over Deep Creek Lake.
(3/26)
E. Screech-owl - Always a nice way to end a day; Garrett Co. (3/26)
Barred Owl - A foggy afternoon serenade near Herrington Lake. (3/26)
Eastern Phoebes - Several locations. (3/26 and 3/27)
Common Raven - Several locations in Garrett. (3/26)

Another great weekend of birding! And was I sated? Well, yes, but not enough
to prevent me from stopping at Lapidum and Port Deposit before heading home
today :) I had to work hard for them, but I had my best-ever looks at a
LITTLE GULL, and eventually found the BLACK-HEADED GULL. They were still
flying their circuits and feeding actively when I left at 4:30. Thanks for
all the great posts!

Have a great week!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Linthicum, Maryland

<www.billhubick.com>