As two Ospreyer's have already pointed out, my post yesterday had a typo - I
saw 2 snow buntrings at Sandy Point, not Lapland buntings. I am sorry.
A corrected version of the post is appended.
"Visited Sandy Point state park this AM. Fresh WNW wind made it chilly.
Double-crested cormorant - 1 fly by
swans (sp?) - 2 very distant
Canada geese - a many 100's grazing on the parks grassy areas
Greater scaup - ...
Lesser scaup - ...
Scaup still give me trouble. There were 2 rafts of ca 400 birds further
up the coast and many smaller parties off the main beach. Based on head
outline, most of those I saw in the 2 rafts appeared to be Greaters. I
would
appreciate any comments or corrections from others who visit Sandy Point.
Long-tailed duck > 20, both sexes
Common goldeneye - ca. 6, both sexes present
Bufflehead - >100 both sexes
Ruddy duck - 1 seen by another birder
Turkey vultures - 4 soaring
Ring-billed gulls - small groups at rest
Greater black-backed gulls (3+/-)
Rock doves
Dark-eyed juncos - loose flocks foraging in low woodland
Snow buntings - 2 feeding and resting in short grass by boat ramp, just
north of main, northerly parking area. Flushed them, but they settled
down
when I froze. Marvellous close up views. They kept together. Low,
hunched
posture and flat heads.
Robin Todd
Ellicott City" |