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Subject:

Surf Scoter, Balt. Co.

From:

Stan Arnold

Reply-To:

Stan Arnold

Date:

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:29:37 -0800

Hi Folks,

I got a call from Brian Sykes late this afternoon, who reported he had seen 
a male Surf Scoter at the Halethorpe Farms Pond today (2/25).  With just a 
bit of daylight remaining, Elaine and I zipped over there and found the bird 
near the west end of the pond (the closer end from the primary entrance). 
Also present were a couple dozen Common Mergansers, a handful of Hooded 
Mergansers, a Double-crested Cormorant, and a Bald Eagle.

The Halethorpe Farms Pond is accessed by taking Washington Blvd (exit 10?) 
south from I-695 for a mile or so, then turning left onto Halethorpe Farms 
Rd.  Go to the end, and park along the crossroad prior to the entrance to 
the Maryland Food Bank (where there are now no-parking signs).  Walk through 
the park gate along the gravel path to the ponds.  The scoter was in the 
larger pond to the left.

Also, Charlie Kucera reports finding a woodcock at the Research Park of UMBC 
last evening.  This has traditionally been a good place for viewing woodcock 
displays, some spectacular, but we are concerned that the timberdoodles may 
find other places to show off, since their former display areas are now 
occupied with new buildings.  If anyone wants to try their luck there, UMBC 
can be accessed by taking the last exit off of the west end of I-195, and 
taking the first right into the research park.  The best place to park is 
probably the USGS parking lot, by the last building on the right.  If you 
haven't been there in a while, there has been a lot of change.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)