A short time ago (around 3:00 pm) I stopped by Buddy Attick Park to 
see if there might be anything of interest on Greenbelt Lake - and 
discovered an adult Snow Goose hanging out near the shore with the 
Canadas.  No, it was NOT a domestic goose - the pink bill with the 
black "grin patch," pink legs, and black primaries were all very 
obvious.  I was astonished!  Maybe this is the same bird that was seen 
in late December at Lake Artemesia in College Park (which is, after all, 
only two miles away).

Actually, I was on my way home from Lake Artemesia, where my dog 
and I enjoyed a leisurely walk on this almost spring-like day.  On the 
way to the lake, I got an excellent look at a female (or immature) Merlin 
that was sitting on a wire overlooking the Koons Ford new car storage 
lot, next to the Washington Post printing plant (not exactly a pristine 
environment).  I thought that THAT made my day, until I saw the Snow 
Goose!

Among the usual suspects on the lake (Canadas, Mallards, ruddies, 
coots), I picked out a single female Hooded Merganser, female 
Bufflehead, and male Ring-necked Duck.  Also, the female (or 
immature male) Goldeneye that has been seen several times is back (I 
missed her/him on my last two trips to the lake).

In addition, there is a MYSTERY DUCK on the lake that is starting to 
drive me slightly batty.  I have seen it twice now, both times in the area 
of the lake closest to where you enter from the parking lot.  Its body is 
patterned like a male Ring-necked Duck - dark head, breast, back, 
and rear with lighter flanks - but it has a broad white band at the base 
of its bill, rather like a female scaup.  Also, I haven't been able to see 
the vertical white "spur" in front of the wing or the distinctive striping on 
the bill (typical of a Ring-neck), but both times that I've seen it, the light 
has been rather poor.  All the same, I've looked at a LOT of Ring-necks 
in my time, and if that's what it is, it looks atypical to me.  I guess I will 
go back tomorrow (hopefully, the light will be better) and try to get my 
scope on it.  If anyone else has noticed this duck, I would appreciate 
your thoughts on it. 

Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)
     

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