As I left the farmhouse at work this afternoon I could hear tundra swans
down near Mockley Point (Piscataway Park, PG County). I decided to walk down
and see how many were around, and I hadn't seen them in a while anyhow. The
snow was coming down good and steady by then (about 5pm) as I traipsed
across the fields and then snuck through the woods over to the canoe launch.
I could tell by all the calling that there were quite a few but I was
pleasantly surprised when I got to the shore. 174 tundra swans were strung
out in a line about 100 yards off shore, seemingly oblivious to the snow
they were feeding and vocalizing non-stop. Every couple of minutes 4 or 5
would get together and raise a ruckus, deciding who the coolest of the bunch
was. Of course I was the coolest of the bunch, kneeling in the snow with a
coating of white covering me from top to toe! There were also a couple of
great blue herons, a mallard or two and a few scaup (sp) hanging around the
swans. Just beyond my binoc's abilities (and the snowy white-out conditions)
were several hundred other ducks of some sort. They were probably scaup,
mallards and buffleheads since I saw more of each around the corner on the
river.  

 

I walked back out along the river towards the boardwalk and then snuck
through the woods to come out near the pool and home. Along the way I found
18 more tundra swans (off of the burial site) along with more geese and
ducks. The geese that had been on the river looked rather handsome in there
jacket of snow. It made me think of giant reversely colored buffleheads! I
also had a pair of wood ducks fly over and a small flock of little ducks
buzz past who were teal sized. Who knows what they really were though. And
mixed in during the walk were the expected cardinals, chickadees, little
brown jobs and such.

 

Not a bad hour long hike in a snowy downpour! It made up for that lonnnng
day of work for sure.

 

Good birding all,

 

Chris Ordiway

Hard Bargain Farm

Accokeek, MD