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Subject:

Purple Finch at Schoolhouse Pond

From:

Fred Shaffer

Reply-To:

Fred Shaffer

Date:

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:09:57 -0400

It has been relatively uneventful at Schoolhouse Pond recently, but this 
morning I had a few nice surprises.  Low in one of the scrub willows 
adacent to the pond I had nice looks at a female Purple Finch.  And, near 
the cattails next to the boardwalk a Marsh Wren was visible.

Waterfowl that have returned and/or passed through recently include 
Gadwall, Shovelers, Blue-winged Teal (a few weeks ago) and 2 Ruddy Ducks 
(on Monday and Tuesday).  And, an adult Bald Eagle has been seen overhead 
at first light on most mornings the last few weeks.

Yesterday had the first relatively large group of Laughing Gulls on the 
pond (approximately 300), with a few Ringers and Herring Gulls mixed in.  
Hopefully there will be large groups of gulls to sort through at lunchtime 
on most days from now and into the fall and winter.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS