On my drive into DC in the morning I pass a large flock of Canada Geese, some of whom are resident all year, this morning there were some not-Canda-geese in the mix - I looked them up when I got in and I believe they were Brant, there were at least 2,  maybe three, possibly more, I couldn't stop to look carefully.
   
  I am not very familiar with waterbirds but maybe if another North Beach area birder is around they can verify - The flock is located on Friendship Rd at the bend right before Herrington Harbour S marina (if you are traveling towards North Beach) There is big field with a little pond on Friendship Rd, next to the Big White Mansion,  across the road there is a smaller field that edges onto the bay. The flock can usually be found on both sides of the road but usually the main group is on the pond side (there are usually only about 30-40, right now there are 100-200+) .  The maybe-Brants were on the bayside, near the woods,  where there are some large puddle ponds that form after a good rain and stay around for a while till they dry up.
   
  Cathryn Reid
  North Beach MD

Michael Bowen <> wrote:
  At 10 a.m. this morning, November 20, I found the previously reported 
Brant at Hains Point, District of Columbia in about the same location 
where it has been seen by others. Actually, it took me a while to 
find it, as it was grazing quietly under a bald cypress tree midway 
between the Awakening Statue and the tip, of the point. It then flew 
into the Potomac, paddled down to the point and back again, then flew 
into the grass amid a group of Ring-billed Gulls and started grazing 
again. When I left at 10:20, it had flown again and was sitting in 
the Potomac on the National Airport side of the point. It flies 
well, has no bands of any sort and eats healthily. I wonder if it 
will stick around for this year's DC Christmas Bird Count.

I photographed the bird, and anyone wanting to take a look at the 
result should contact me offline.

A Merlin was chasing crows in the same general area. Several small 
groups of Laughing Gulls were flying north up the Anacostia River.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD

D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
[]


 
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