MD Osprey:

Re the PA pair, just north of the MD/PA line ... and it includes a 
reference to a pair near Alexandria, VA earlier this month.

Phil


>From: "Hans Holbrook" <>
>To: 
>Subject: FW: [PABIRDS] FLATS, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
>Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:45:29 +0000
>
>Hey Phil,
>
>Here is the post to PA Birds I mentioned. I guess it was just 
>yesterday! Almost certainly another pair.
>
>Hans
>
>Hans Holbrook
>
>Baltimore, MD
>
>
>>From: Chuck Chalfant <>
>>Reply-To: Chuck Chalfant <>
>>To: 
>>Subject: [PABIRDS] FLATS,  Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
>>Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:06:00 -0400
>>
>>Greetings,
>>
>>While kayaking on the Conejohela Flats early this morning, looking 
>>for the Least Terns that were reported yesterday by Bob Schutsky, 
>>and Tom Amico. I never did find the Least Terns, but did see the 
>>previously reported 2 Forster's Terns.
>>
>>As I approached Gull Island in kayak, I saw a distant small flock 
>>of Canada Geese flying downstream towards me, but two of the birds 
>>were noticeably smaller. They appeared to be flying in formation 
>>with the 6 Canada's. I got the binoculars on them and could see 
>>that they were very different in size, next thing I noticed was the 
>>pale heads in contrast with the neck, then I see the flash of white 
>>on top of wing, and see wings are all dark on the underside. Then 
>>as they got closer I noticed the rufous neck coloration. WOW!!  The 
>>small group kept getting closer and closer and finally the Geese 
>>pulled up as if to land on the water, the Whistling Ducks separated 
>>from the Geese momentarily, but then they landed with those white 
>>wing patches very noticeable now. They stayed a few yards from the 
>>6 Canada's, and I took one more look with binoculars before I 
>>headed the kayak for the shore of Gull Island. One more look with 
>>bino's with both feet on the ground, got out Sibley's and confirmed 
>>my hunch of Black-bellied Whistling Duck, even though I knew it was 
>>a very rare bird for Pa. Once I was satisfied with the field marks. 
>>I fumbled to get the tripod unlashed
>>from kayak, set it up and focus scope, with camera in hand for some 
>>digiscoping; I had the Geese in focus, but where were the 2 ducks?? 
>>They had somehow left and I didn't even see them leave, evidently 
>>when I was getting scope set up. This was about 7:15, I paddled 
>>around for about 3 more hours without seeing them again, I got off 
>>the water about 10:00 am., then looked upstream along rt. 441 at 
>>the few vantage spots along the way, and at the Columbia 
>>Wrightsville Bridge Area. But Alas no Whistling Ducks to be found there.
>>
>>But there are 2 out there on the Susquehanna somewhere, good day 
>>for a boat ride, take your camera along !!  No photo for me today 
>>but I at least got to see these 2 stray birds for a few minutes 
>>!!!!!!!!!  I went to see the Black-belies that were on a pond in 
>>Lanc.Co. in 1993, probably less than 6 miles East of where these 2 were today.
>>According to "Birds of Pa. Annotated List, Second Edition", by 
>>Frank and Barb Haas, there were two other sightings in Pa. also in 
>>1993 in Indiana and Westmoreland Counties. And I just got an e-mail 
>>from Jay Keller of Alexandria Virginia who reports that they had a 
>>pair land on a pond  stay for a couple of days the first week of 
>>June of this year near Alexandria. !!!!!!
>>
>>No photo, but as Bob Schutsky says, there isn't a real bad day on 
>>the FLATS.  By the way these were both Adult Birds, the only field 
>>mark I did not get was the pale eye ring.
>>
>>The FLAT'S were very calm today with not a hint of breeze, pretty 
>>warm by 10:00.  Saw lots of Wood Ducks and several broods of young 
>>while looking around , only a few Shorebirds, 6 Killdeer, 1 Least 
>>Sandpiper, and 1 Spotted Sandpiper. And plenty of the breeding 
>>birds of the Susquehanna.
>>
>> 
>>Chuck Chalfant
>>Chuck Chalfant

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Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
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