Hi Folks,

Elaine and I took part in the Annapolis/Gibson Island Christmas Bird Count
yesterday, and then spent some time in the afternoon and this morning going
around looking for waterfowl in the area, to include the Patapsco ponds
along the northern rim of the county.  Some of the finds:

Sunday, 1 Jan 06:

    Old Annapolis landfill (not open to public) as part of the CBC:

Tundra Swan--10 flyovers
Bald Eagle--1 adult
Barred Owl--1 responded to my calls on two occasions
YB Sapsucker--1
Hairy Woodpecker--1
Red-breasted Nuthatch--1
Brown Creeper--7
Winter Wren--2
GC Kinglet--2
Hermit Thrush--6
Brown Thrasher--1
Field Sparrow--4
Savannah Sparrow--56
Fox Sparrow--3
MEADOWLARK--4

    Old reservoir, adjacent to landfill (access by permit):
Am. Black Duck--5
Hooded Merganser--7

    Wilson Rd. (N. Annapolis) area and Severn River:
Mute Swan--6
Bufflehead--11
YB Sapsucker--1

    Westinghouse Bay, by Bay Bridge toll plaza (near Sandy Point State
Park):
DC Cormorant--2 (very scarce this winter!)
Canvasback--ca 75

    Sandy Point State Park:
Ruddy Duck--ca 15

    Chesapeake Rd., near Sandy Point State Park:
Great Cormorant--12 on Baltimore Lighthouse
DC Cormorant--2 juveniles with the above
Greater Scaup--1000+
Lesser Scaup--several dozen
Long-tailed Duck--ca 50
Common Goldeneye--ca 25
Bufflehead--all over
Bonaparte's Gull--ca 25

    Monday, 2 Jan 2006, Patapsco ponds, northern AA Co:

    Pond 14
Great Black-backed Gull, among 2 dozen Ring-bills

    Pond 11 (off Nursery Rd., just west of B&A Blvd):
GB Heron--1
Mallard--ca 10
Green-winged Teal--12 (VERY skittish; one has to sneak up to the pond early
in the a.m. to see these birds)

    Pond 10 (Barkwood Ct off of Nursery Rd., on west side of BW Parkway):
GB Heron--1
Mallard--10
N. Shoveler--3
Hooded Merganser--9
Red-shouldered Hawk--1
Belted Kingfisher--1

    Pond 6  (River Rd., just west of intxn with Nursery Rd.):
Duck, sp--4 small ducks flushed before I could identify them--looked
teal-like

    Pond 3 (accessed from River Rd., across from first house heading west):
GB Heron--1
Gadwall--8
Mallard--3
B. Kingfisher--1
Winter Wren--1
Hermit Thrush--1

    Crownsville hospital sewerage lagoons, Marbury Rd.:
Gadwall--4
Ring-necked Duck--54
Scaup--10 (all lessers?)

    Thomas Point, Annapolis (access by permit):
Mute Swan--1
Tundra Swan--ca 30
Greater Scaup--ca 50
Lesser Scaup--ca 20
Surf Scoter--8, some close to shore
Black Scoter--5, a pair close to shore
Long-tailed Duck--ca 50
Co. Goldeneye--ca 15
Bufflehead--ca 50
Co. Loon--1

    Bay Drive & River Drive, Annapolis:
Am. Wigeon--10
Surf Scoter--pair very close to shore
Scaup--many
Bufflehead--many

    A very enjoyable time of birding on the eve of going back to the grind.
New Year's Greetings to all.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie