Hi Folks,

Elaine and I made an early morning circuit of the ponds on the Anne Arundel
side of the Patapsco River.  Highlights were the presence of 12 species of
waterfowl (highest ever) and a N. PINTAIL and AMERICAN WIGEON, both at Pond
10, perhaps the first time I've seen either species at these ponds.
Lowlights include the total lack of Shovelers this winter, birds which have
been regular in winters past.  Also, I've included a list of ducks observed
by Brian Sykes at the Halethorpe Farms Ponds during the past week.

For a description of the Patapsco ponds, I've written an article about them
which Charlie Kucera has posted on his website:

http://mysite.verizon.net/cakarbutus/index.htm

Go to the menu at the lower left, and click on the appropriate title.  To
find directions or a description of just one pond, it's easier to click on
the pond map, and then click on the number of the pond desired.

Today's tally of the Anne Arundel ponds, in chronological order (from east
to west):

    Pond 14
Ring-necked Duck--2 males

    Pond 13
Lesser Scaup--3 (2m 1f)
Common Merganser--1 male
Ring-billed Gull--12
Herring Gull--1

    Pond 12
Canada Goose--21
Mallard--4

    Pond 11
Mallard--2
Green-winged Teal--6

    Pond 10
Canada Goose--12
Wood Duck--2 pairs
Gadwall--22
AM. WIGEON--1 male
Am. Black Duck--1
Mallard--17
N. PINTAIL--3 (1m 2f)
GW Teal--9
Hooded Merganser--pair
RB Gull--4

    Pond 9--duckless

    Pond 6
Hooded Merganser--1 male

    Pond 3--very difficult to access with fallen trees and flooded
conditions
Canada Goose--11
Wood Duck--9 (5m 4f)
Gadwall--2
Mallard--16
GW Teal--7 (6m 1f)
GB Heron--4

    Pond 2
Canada Goose--5
Gadwall--15--all flushed (probably to Pond 3) upon our arrival
Lesser Scaup--pair
B. Kingfisher--1

    Yesterday while driving along Rte 100 in Anne Arundel Co. we saw our
first OSPREY of the year, perched on one of the street lights.

    Also of note:  Charles Lentz sent me an email with attached photos of
the Pied Crow, which he saw at Southwest Area Park (Balt. Co.), showing a
leg band of some sort.

    Brian Sykes reports the following water birds from the Halethorpe Farms
Ponds (Ponds 4 & 5, Balt. Co.) during the past week, but without numbers:

Wood Duck
Gadwall
Am. Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
PB Grebe
DC Cormorant
Am. Coot
mystery duck--perhaps a female REDHEAD

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie