Hi Everyone,

I went for a run around the perimeter of Fort Smallwood Park this
afternoon, enjoying the extra daylight now available after work. There was
a vast flock of ducks in the distance, easily over 5,000 individuals by my
brief estimation. Matt Grey mentioned doing a more thorough survey
yesterday, and noted large numbers of scaup, Ruddy Ducks, and Canvasbacks.


Near the end of my run, just up Rock Creek from the pier, I had a brief
look at an interesting female goldeneye. Although the bird was backlit, my
interest was piqued by what appeared to be a steeper forehead and "boxier"
head shape. She did stand out from the two hens beside her. I didn't get
any detail on the bill color and didn't have a good angle for details in
flight when the birds flushed. I hope to return tomorrow to get a better
look. If anyone's up for playing some long odds tomorrow, it couldn't hurt
to sort through the ducks. Keep your eyes open tomorrow, Ranger Grey.

Full list for the run:

American Black Duck--6
Mallard--14
NORTHERN PINTAIL--1 drake
Canvasback--20
Greater Scaup--18
Lesser Scaup--X; Certainly present in the 5,000+ bird raft
Bufflehead--40
Common Goldeneye--11
Hooded Merganser--1 hen
Ruddy Duck--X; Certainly abundant in the 5,000+ bird raft
duck sp.--5000
Double-crested Cormorant--1
Great Blue Heron--1
KILLDEER--2
Ring-billed Gull--7
Herring Gull--1
Mourning Dove--3
Red-bellied Woodpecker--2
Downy Woodpecker--1
HAIRY WOODPECKER--1 male; entered a cavity in a tree on the east side of
the pond; only my second sighting in the park
Northern Flicker--1
Carolina Chickadee--1
White-breasted Nuthatch--1
Carolina Wren--2
Eastern Bluebird--2
American Robin--14
European Starling--22
White-throated Sparrow--1
Dark-eyed Junco--14
Northern Cardinal--1
Red-winged Blackbird--9
Common Grackle--2
Brown-headed Cowbird--4; foraging in the grass in an open area
House Finch--5

Good birding,

Bill
 
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com