Hello, birders.
I birded part of the Eastern Shore today, hoping for a
nice variety of waterfowl. I was especially wanting
to find Ross' or Cackling Goose.
First I stopped at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental
Center (formerly the Horsehead Wetlands) in Queen's
Anne's Co., where the best bird was a small
CANADA/CACKLING GOOSE at the Visitor Center pond (see
notes in last paragraph). Don't know how to tell them
apart. I walked from the Visitor Center area around
Lake Knapp and back to the V.C., incl. the bayshore
area.
Later, I checked out the Rte. 309 pond (1.0 mile west
of Rte. 213 on Rte. 309), the pond at Pemberton Manor
(2.0 mi. E of Starr on Rte. 309); both in Queen Anne's
Co.
The former pond on 309 held 2 AM. BLACK DUCKS, a pair
of G.W. TEAL, 28 RING-NECKED DUCKS and 9 LSR. SCAUP.
At least 2 HORNED LARKS were in the area, 1 was
singing. The latter pond on 309 held just 4 MALLARD
and 2 KILLDEER.
Then I drove N on Rte. 213 and found a pond and
surrounding field filled with geese. About 1000
Canadas and 500 Snows were there, along with 5 AM.
WIDGEON, 6 LSR. SCAUP and 2 more HORNED LARKS. It was
fun to watch the geese coming and going, feeding and
preening. This spot is located about halfway in
between the Rte. 300 intersection and the Chester
River. It's on the right side of the road, .9 miles S
of the intersection with Union Church Rd. and Schrader
Rd. I didn't find any rarities here but I easily
could have missed something, esp. since the geese were
breaking off and flying away when I arrived. 3 Snows
wore neck collars.
Great Oak Pond, in Kent Co. (W of Melitota, .7 mi.
past intersection with Rte. 298, then turn left at
Great Oak sign and drive another .1 mile, large pond
on left) was loaded with birds, mostly Canadas. At
this location, I saw 41 TUNDRA SWAN, 9 white phase
SNOW GEESE, about 1000 CANADA GEESE, 2 AM. WIDGEON, 5
MALLARD and 41 LSR. SCAUP.
A BLACK VULTURE flew over Kent Island at dusk on my
way home. I don't believe that I've seen a vulture
out and about this late in the day before.
Full species list, with numbers, for Chesapeake Bay
Env. Center is below. Compare with yesterday's trip
by the Baltimore and Cecil Bird Clubs, quite similar:
-Canada Goose, 18
-Canada/Cackling, 1
-Mute Swan, 19
-Tundra Swan, 1 bird, a female there since July I'm
told (+1 rehabilitated bird, a male brought to keep
her company), both in V.C. pond
-Gadwall, 45
-Am. Widgeon, 1m
-Am. Black Duck, 6
-Mallard, 81+
-Canvasback, 200+/-
-Gr. Scaup, 6
-Lsr. Scaup, 18
-Surf Scoter, 24
-Long-tailed Duck, 1m
-Bufflehead, 44+
-Red-br. Merganser, 10
-Ruddy Duck, 92
-B. Vulture, 1
-T. Vulture, 4
-B. Eagle, 1 ad.
-R.t. Hawk, 1
-R.b/Her. Gull sp., 3
-R.b. Gull, 3
-Gr. Black-backed Gull, 1
-M. Dove, 1
-R.b. Woodpecker
-No. Flicker, 1
-crow sp., 1
-Car. Chickadee, 5
-W.b. Nuthatch, 1
-B.h. Nuthatch, 2
-B. Creeper, 2
-Car. Wren, 3
-Winter Wren, 1
-R.c. Kinglet, 1
-Am. Robin, 1
-No. Mockingbird, 2
-Y.r. Warbler, 10
-Song Sparrow, 3
-Wh.-throated Sparrow, 6
-D.e. Junco, 2
-No. Cardinal, 7
-R.w. Blackbird, 21+
-Com. Grackle, 1+ (heard at least 1 in blackbird
chorus)
Small races of Canada Goose versus Cackling Goose is
difficult ID based on what I've been reading. Today's
bird is the first small Canada-type goose that I've
ever seen. Definitely much smaller than the 5 Canada
Geese next to it. Color, shape and pattern seemed the
same except 1) a short bill and 2) the upperparts were
a duskier brown with dusky gray-brown markings. NOT
round headed, thus not the smallest race of Cackling.
On the sightings list someone wrote "Richardson's
Canada Goose 12/29, 1/7." Anyone have any experience
with this individual? If so, what did you call it?
Do Richardson's actually occur in the East?
Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com |