Hi Everybody,

After the rains had passed I went to look at Great Oak Pond from 12:40 
to 1:25 PM (27 Oct). Loafing geese were there in good numbers including 
over 1000 Canadas and 1500 Snows (55 blue geese). Among the common goose 
species were 12 ROSS'S GEESE broken up into family groups of four (2 
juvs and 2 ads still present) and six (4 juvs and 2 ads), and a pair of 
adults. The family of four prefers to loaf in the northwest corner of 
the pond, the others were on the far (south) shore. Among the Canada 
Geese were an adult CACKLING GOOSE, and an adult BRANT (pale-bellied 
Atlantic). Other waterfowl present included the continuing twosome of 
white domestic Greylags, at least 20 Green-winged Teal, 8 Northern 
Shovelers, Ruddy Duck numbers have risen to 105, and two Lesser Scaup 
were new for the autumn. Around the pond were a few American Pipits, 
Horned Larks, at least four Tree Swallows, and an American Kestrel. 
Brant was a new species for the pond and my home atlas block 
(Hanesville-SE; I use the block to define a local patch). It appears 
loafing geese use the pond from mid-morning to around 4 or 5 PM. During 
this time birds come and go as they move out into the fields and back to 
the pond, so it pays to hang around to see what shows up. I managed to 
read nine neck collars on female Greater Snow Geese today (plus one 
unreadable), the first ones I've been able to read this fall. Kevin 
Graff has gotten some codes during earlier visits to Great Oak Pond this 
fall. Birds wearing yellow neck collars with black alphanumerics are all 
from southwestern Bylot Island in Nunavut, Canada.

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.