The winds were brutal along the seawall at mid-day today, but fortunately the 
two birds I came to see were still there. The BLACK SCOTER was directly off 
the east wall, near a flock of Bufflehead. A little farther along (going 
clockwise), the Canada Goose flock was crowded together on the water under the 
shelter of the seawall, while the immature SNOW GOOSE was grazing on the grass just 
above them. It reluctantly joined them as I approached but returned to the 
lawn as I left.

Other birds of note were a flyby female GREATER SCAUP, one HORNED GREBE out 
in the channel, and an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flying around the 
opposite shore, slightly north of the fort.

Slightly off-topic, there has been a flurry of Common Redpoll sightings in 
western and northern PA in the last several days. If the arctic weather 
continues, maybe we'll see a few. And, as another post suggested, it could be a good 
year for Red-necked Grebes if the Great Lakes freeze solid.

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD