Hi,

Here are some more details on the birds that Bill Hubick and I saw this 
weekend.  As he said in his post, he has photos posted at: 
http://billhubick.com/new_set.html.

Saturday 12/2 started slow with nothing of note being picked out of the 
early dawn at Rocky Gap (Allegany Co) and nothing in Meadow Lake 
(Garrett).  We found several hundred Canada Geese in the shallow ponds just 
north of Meadow Lake on the other side of route 40, but did not see the 
Barnacle Goose.

Deep Creek Lake was choppy and few birds were seen but we did find the 
following near Glendale Road and 219:
Am Coot: 50
Ca Goose: 10
Hooded Merg: 2
Mallards: 6

At the ponds off 219 south of Deep Creek we saw 18 Buffleheads

Our luck changed at Broadford Lake with the highlight being the 
RED-THROATED LOON
RED-THROATED LOON: 1 (photos)
PB Grebes: 5
AMERICAN WIGEON: 1
A. Black Duck: 2
Ho Mergs: 30
Ruddy Ducks: 20
Ring-billed Gulls: 2

Next we met up with Jim Stasz and JB Churchill at High Rocks.  It is a 
beautiful spot requiring an invigorating hike/climb, but the birds were thin:
RT Hawk: 2
Commn Ravens seen by JB & Jim before our arrival

Jennings-Randolph Lake held only a Greater Scaup on the WV side plus a pair 
of Hooded Mergs

Trout Run WWTP:
BLUE GOOSE: 1
NO. PINTAIL: 1
GREATER SCAUP: 1
Mallards
and a huge crow flock

Rt 495
No. Mockingbird (Good in Garrett!)

Meadow Lake:  w/ Jim and JB
BARNACLE GOOSE: 1 (photos)
Ruddy Ducks

Aaron Run:
We saw 2 Short-Eared Owls hunting the fields at dusk.  A great way to end 
the day - Thanks, Jim!


Sunday 12/3:

Finzel Swamp: w/ Jim
A. TREE SPARROWS: 10+ (photos)
plus a good selection of land birds.  Land birds had been pretty thin on 
Saturday

Piney Reservoir: w/ Jim and JB
Ca Goose: 30
GW TEAL: 4

Meadow Lake:
We joined Ray Kiddy, Paul O'Brien, and Susan Syers who were studying the 
Barnacle Goose which was now on land.  As mentioned in other posts we had 
good views and unfortunately the bird appeared to be missing its right rear 
toe.  Also present were:
Tundra Swan: 1 imm.
Ruddy Ducks

Then Bill and I moved east making stops in Allegany, Washington and 
Frederick Counties:

North Branch (Allegany):  Mikey Lutmerding guided us to a Cackling Goose in 
the sewage pools along the drive in (photos).   The rest of the birds were 
in/along the canal.
CADWALL: 3
Mallard: 20
Wood Duck: 1
Ca Goose: 2
RICHARDSON'S GOOSE: 1
Myrtle Warblers: 2
Note: 1 of these birds had a strong yellow wash to its throat.  The light 
throat area did not appear to wrap backwards under the malar/cheek, but the 
bird flew away before we could study it well or get photos.  Interesting bird!


Rt 51:
A. TREE SPARROW: 1-3

C&O Terminus:
Ho. Mergs: 5
Am Kestrel: 1 - 2
Many Canadas - the Richardson's could have been there but we didn't see 
it.  The geese were distant and we didn't look very hard.

On the way to the terminus  Bill was telling me about a Northern Goshawk 
that used to feed on the Pigeons nearby.  Just then we saw a good-sized 
raptor chasing a group of pigeons.  We stopped and jumped out of the car, 
but the bird was 'only' a Cooper's.  It was a large bird, I expect female, 
but not the larger relative we briefly hoped for.  (photos)

Rocky Gap:
PB Grebe: 2
Bufflehead: 4
Am Coot: 3

Mason Road:
A. Black Duck: 1
Ho Merg: 21

Big Pool: (Washington Co)
Wood Duck: 2
GADWALL: 8
A. Black Duck: 6
COMMON MERG: 1
Hooded Merg: 2
Mutant Barnyard Goose: 1
Killdeer: 5

Kershner's Pond: (Frederick Co)
TUNDRA SWAN: 1
Snow Goose: 1 imm
Ca Goose: 200
A. Black Duck: 4
Mallards:
REDHEAD: 5
CANVASBACK: 1
RN Ducks: 10
Bufflehead: 5
Ruddy Ducks: 20
Am Coots: 15

It was a great weekend with some great birds.  Can't wait to do it again!

Have fun,
Tom



*********************************
             Tom Feild
             Code 568
           NASA/GSFC
      Greenbelt, MD 20771
           301-286-6686
*********************************