Hi Everybody,

Nancy and I had a meeting with Ian's teachers this morning and we stopped at Great Oak Pd. for a routine check at about 11:30 AM. As I was checking the birds on the west shore of the pond I saw one with a very differently colored back - blue gray with broad black bars. The bird lifted its head reavealing its black neck and crown and white face. Deja vu all over again a BARNACLE GOOSE! It's hard to be sure that this is the same one that was briefly seen here in mid-October, but it is the same age (adult) and comparison of our notes indicate that nature of the black barring and extent of black on the mantle are exactly comparable. I suppose the bird has been ranging the often inaccessible back parts of fields here in western Kent County with only occasional visits to Great Oak Pd. (we have not been ignoring it since October). 

We dropped in to talk with the owners of the farm and they are aware that birders may be present along the road. **Please note** There are now signs along the road requesting that observers stay in their vehicles. Disturbing geese on a rest and sanctuary pond is frowned-upon in the extreme in goose hunting country. As Ms. Debnam put it: "You'd be better off bothering a man's wife than 'his' geese." If you absolutely must get out to use your 'scope, please stay on the other side of the road from the pond and behind your vehicle. The man in charge of goose hunting in the area also does not like Snow Geese because they compete with the favored Canadas, he may flush flocks of Snow Geese if they make an appearance on the pond.

Also present today: 13 Tundra Swans (six flybys); 4 pintail; 5 Canvasbacks; 3 Lesser Scaup; 18 Ruddy Ducks; 2 Bufflehead; 1 Cackling (Richardson's) Goose (not associating with the Barnacle); 5 Eastern Meadowlarks; 50 Horned Larks; and 7 Bald Eagles (6 imm. 1 ad., eating goose remains in the fields).

Directions:
From US 301 take MD 213 north through Centreville and Church Hill to Chestertown. Stay on 213 through Chestertown passing Washington College. At the major intersection past Washington College turn left on MD 291 (Morgnec Rd) and proceed to MD 20 (High St). Bear right and stay in the turning lane on the right to turn onto MD 514 (Flatland Rd) there are signs for the Kent Co Detention Ctr and Great Oak Marina at the corner. Continue out 514 for about 4 miles and bear left sharply (still on 514). You will come to a crossroad with MD 298 in Melitota (there is a defunct store at the corner). Go straight onto Handy Pt. Rd and continue for a bit over 1 3/4 miles when you will see Great Oak Rd bearing away to the left (there are signs for the Great Oak Landing Resort). Turn onto the narrow paved road and pull off to the right onto the grass at the top of the hill and the pond will be on your left across a narrow field. There may be a fair amount of traffic headed out to the Great Oak Resort, so take care. 

Good Birding,

Walter Ellison

23460 Clarissa Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
phone: 410-778-9568
e-mail: 

"A person who is looking for something doesn't travel very fast" - E. B. White (in "Stuart Little")

"Are there *ever* enough birds?" - Connie Hagar as quoted by Edwin Way Teale in "Wandering through Winter"