Did some birding around Montgomery today. Stopped at Little Seneca Lake
(Rt 121 bridge). Nothing unusual that has not been reported over past
few weeks. There are still a few open water spots. Parking was tough as
the lot had not been cleared. Did not see the Red-necked Grebe.
Drove some backroads to look for my FOY Fox Sparrow. Checked out
bunches of roadside sparrow flocks before finally finding 2 Fox Sparrows
along River Rd in the vicinity of Sycamore Landing Rd. Also had two
small (about 7 birds each) Wild Turkey flocks near Poolesville. One
flock on each side of Rt 107 in the fields just west of Partnership Rd.
Checked out the Potomac from Violette's Lock to the pipeline cut south
of Blockhouse Pt. Pretty much same makeup of waterfowl as reported on
2-11. Birds were not as concentrated. Best variety was closest to
Violette's Lock. There were a few more Redheads (15) and Common
Goldeneye (14), an additional drake Northern Pintail and south of the
pipeline cut a very large flock (for upper Potomac) of Buffleheads
(maybe 250+). No GW Teal though. Water looks open almost all the way to
Pennyfield. Birds seen today that were not seen on 2-11, include
American Black Duck, Canvasback (10), Bald Eagle (3), and best of all an
AMERICAN PIPIT walking on a nearshore ice shelf and feeding on some kind
of small particles that littered the ice. I would have thought this very
unusual but Paul Woodward reported seeing a lone American Pipit earlier
this week on one of the ice covered impoundments at Hughes Hollow.
I may try and walk south from Pennyfield tomorrow.
Good birding,
Andy Martin
Gaithersburg |