I took a bracing two-hour visit to Black Hill Regional Park and 
Little Seneca Lake this morning, January 16.  Many of the waterfowl 
were sheltering from the wind at lake edges on south facing parts of 
the park.  Most notable were 34 Tundra Swans on the ice in the 
Ten-mile Creek area, 50+ Common Mergansers, and almost as many Hooded 
Mergansers.  Canvasbacks and Ring-necked Ducks were in pretty small 
numbers -- smaller than usual here. At one point I counted 33 
Pied-billed Grebes huddled together in among a Ruddy Duck Flock.  I 
could find just one Common Goldeneye.  Bufflehead were here and 
there, but not in great numbers.

A large flock of Ring-billed Gulls sitting on the water was seen to 
contain at least 10 Bonaparte's Gulls as the whole flock took off 
when approached by two adult Bald Eagles. I also got a good look at 
two flying (and croaking) Common Ravens -- first time I have seen Ravens here.

The land birding was surprisingly good on the lakeside trail just 
east of Route 121, north of the bridge.  Wintering groups contained 
numerous Cedar Waxwings and American Goldfinches, 6 Pine Siskins, 2 
Hermit Thrushes, 2 Winter Wrens, 2 Towhees, a Hairy Woodpecker, a 
Flicker, and lots of Song and White-throated Sparrows.

The temperature was 12 degrees F. when I arrived, and by the time I 
left, just before noon, it had soared to 14.

Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom