Hi All,

I checked out Great Oak Pond this afternoon at 5:00 PM. Lots of geese 
there, they've pretty much chased out the shorebirds and they're hiding 
a lot of the other smaller waterfowl. Among the 1500 Canadas were a 
modest 370 Snow Geese (11 Blues) and four ROSS'S GEESE. The Ross's were 
in an apparent family group including two adults and two juveniles, this 
was also suggested by a clear size difference between the adults. Also 
present were 44 Mallards, 16 Green-winged Teal (at least, they're hard 
to count among the behemoths), 13 Ruddy Ducks, my first Ring-necked Duck 
of the fall (an eclipse drake), and two kestrels. On Tuesday there was a 
CACKLING GOOSE with 2000 Canadas at Great Oak Pd.

Note that a house is being built across the road from the pond. At 
present it's not clear how this will affect parking and viewing from the 
road shoulder. There is also a "No Trespassing" sign posted on the south 
side of the road (the folks building the house are not the owners of the 
pond).

If you're of a mind to, please drop by at the Big Sit on the Tubby Cove 
observation platform at Eastern Neck tomorrow.

Good birding,

Walter Ellison

3460 Clarissa Rd
Chestertown, MD 21620
410-778-9568

rossgull (at) baybroadband.net

Observing Nature is like unwrapping a big pile of presents every time 
you take a walk.