Hi Folks,
   With one last present waiting for my wife at the Gift Shop, I headed off
to Assateague NWR this AM.  Temps last night at 12 degrees F.
   The real prize for the day was brant - hundreds of them, so close as
they flew back and forth over the road at Verrazano Bridge.  No less
impressive, was the large number of surf scoter that I estimated at over 
150 birds.  Bufflehead everywhere - white dots bobbing out over the bay!
At least 50 Black ducks were along the marsh edges. 
   At the OC Inlet, 5 female old squaw were huddled together with another
large flock of bufflehead.  The bonaparte gulls, however, were out over
the ocean at the limit of visibility.
   I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Wonderful Holiday Season.
With best wishes,
Lance