A leisurely tour of Lake Artemesia in Berwyn Heights (near 
College Park, PG County) this afternoon provided great views 
of the female COMMON GOLDENEYE and BUFFLEHEAD reported last 
week, along with a LESSER SCAUP and 3 PIED-BILLED GREBES. 
Also had great looks at a couple of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. 
Full report below.

I'm not great with Scaup.  I based my ID on the shape of the 
head at rest (peaked toward the back), following Sibley. 
Here's a photo taken at some distance:

http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/xfer/IDs/scaup.jpg

Any other opinions welcome.  I also saw the bird in flight 
and noted a shorter wing stripe than might be expected for 
Greater Scaup.  Also, I guess Lesser would prefer the lake?

Here's a photo of the Goldeneye with the Bufflehead:

http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/xfer/IDs/gold_n_buff.jpg

Two questions: 1) is it surprising that there is no 
discernible yellow on the Goldeneye's bill? 2) is it 
possible to tell whether the Bufflehead is a female and not 
a first-winter male?

Finally, here's a photo of a raptor taken a few days ago on 
the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park trail (again, a long way 
away):

http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/xfer/IDs/buteo.jpg

Unfortunately the bird flew soon after the shot, so I didn't 
get to study it for long.  My best guess is Red-tailed Hawk 
(immature?), but the front seems very pale.  (Also had 
female MERLIN that day!)

Thanks for any ID help. :)  Here is the Lake report:

Report Details
Location name: Lake Artemesia
Observation date: 1/1/06
Duration: 2 hour(s) 20 minute(s)
# of people in birding party: 4
Are you reporting all the species you identified? Yes
Total # of species: 25
Observation type: Stationary Count
Start time: 1:30 PM
Distance covered: N/A
Area covered: N/A
Weather had a negative effect on my ability to collect 
birding information: No

Checklist diary notes:
First birds of 2006! We toured the lake slowly, 
concentrating on the water. Unseasonably warm, mostly sunny, 
light breeze. Highlights: scaup, bufflehead, goldeneye, and 
kinglet. Two buteo sp overhead (long glide). May have heard 
a second Red-bellied Woodpecker. Probably more 
White-throated Sparrows. May have heard White-breasted 
Nuthatch, starling, and robin. First solid ID of the year: 
Blue Jay.

Species Details
Species Name Number Reported
Canada Goose 250
Mallard 15
Lesser Scaup 1
Bufflehead 1
Common Goldeneye 1
Ruddy Duck 20
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Turkey Vulture 2
Ring-billed Gull 75
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 30
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Northern Mockingbird 6
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 5

-- 
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/ __