on 3/18/06 8:46 AM, Paul Mackey at  wrote:

> I went birding on the C&O canal at the 72.8 mile marker across from
> Shepherdstown, WV.  I'd just crossed the bridge to the towpath when I saw
> some ducks on the water.  I observed them for about 15 minutes as they
> slowly came closer...
> 
> I finally scurried back to my car for my field guide and from my
> observations and notes, I identified them as Scaup.  From their size, I'd
> say Lesser Scaup.

Your ID is correct Paul. Nancy and I birded along the canal from mile marker
71 to the bridge on Thursday morning and saw them at the same location as
you.

Our complete list during the hour and a half that we were there is as
follows:

  
 Tundra Swan  28   (24 adults and 4 immatures flying north)
 Canada Goose   
 Mallard  8   
 Lesser Scaup  2   
 Bufflehead  2   
 Common Merganser  3
 Killdeer  1   
 Red-bellied Woodpecker
 Downy Woodpecker  
 Hairy Woodpecker  2
 Northern Flicker  
 Eastern Phoebe  1 
 Blue Jay    
 American Crow   
 Common Raven   
 Eastern Bluebird  
 Hermit Thrush   1
 American Robin   
 European Starling 
 White-breasted Nuthatch
 Brown Creeper   
 Carolina Wren   
 Tree Swallow  1   
 Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Carolina Chickadee
 Tufted Titmouse   
 American Goldfinch
 Purple Finch    
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
 White-throated Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco   
 Northern Cardinal 

Numbers were not noted for the more common species.

-- 
Elliot Kirschbaum
Shepherdstown, WV
kingfisher500 at adelphia dot net