Hi Folks,

As we often do on long weekends, Elaine and I stayed at Patuxent River NAS 
for a couple nights, and birded in Calvert, St. Mary's, Charles, and PG 
Counties.  While we didn't come across any rarities, we did find some large 
concentrations of several birds.  Here are the highlights from the trip:

Sat., 17 Jan (a.m. temp 2 above zero at BWI)

    Calvert Co.:

CACKLING GOOSE--3 together among 1000 or so Canadas in large field on right 
as you enter Solomons from under bridge
Common Goldeneye--40 in Patuxent River from US Navy Rec Center
Ruddy Duck--60, from Asbury Ret. Center, Solomons
Common Loon -- 26 counted in Patuxent River from US Navy Rec Center, 
Solomons (could find none with pale bills, but I looked)
Bonaparte's Gull--7, Chesapeake Beach Marina
Rock Pigeon--18 at Asbury Ret. Center (the only reliable place for these 
birds in Calvert)
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD--seen at Sue Hamilton's in Sci. Cliffs at 12:10 p.m. 
(thanks, Sue!)

    Patuxent River NAS, St. Mary's Co., p.m. (restricted access):

Hooded Merganser--52 (all of which were in Goose Creek, viewed from long 
causeway)
Sanderling--22, Cedar Point Beach
White-throated Sparrow--225 along all roads
N. Cardinal--72, along roads

Sun., 18 Jan

    Patuxent River NAS, St. Mary's Co., a.m.:

CACKLING GOOSE--1 in small group of Canadas near Cedar Point
Sanderling--36 (24 at Cedar Point Beach; 12 at Goose Creek inlet)
Dunlin--21, Cedar Point Beach
Rock Pigeon--9 in field with 40 or so crows, near Kyle Rambo's office; a 
tough bird in St. Mary's Co.
N. Cardinal--87, along roads
E. Meadowlark--12 on airfield near control tower

    Point Lookout State Park, p.m.:

White-winged Scoter--1 hen, unassociated
Black Scoter--23 in one raft, fairly close in, but separate from very large 
raft of Surfs
Great Cormorant--1
Sanderling--2
Bonaparte's Gull--5

Mon., 19 Jan

    Harry Nice Bridge (US 301), Charles Co.:

Ruddy Duck--380
Great Cormorant--1
Double-crested Cormorant--117

    Morgantown, Charles Co.:
Ruddy Duck--200 way out (duck hunters ensured that no ducks were close to 
shore)
Pine Siskin--3 at feeder (several houses in the little town have active 
feeders)

    Mattawoman Creek, Charles Co. (almost totally frozen with a few open 
pools; many ducks with little variety, concentrated densely in a long row on 
the ice)
Am. Black Duck--460
N. Pintail--220
Hooded Merganser--2 (only other waterfowl were Mallards and Canada Geese)
Great Blue Heron--10

    Piscataway Park, PG Co. (ice on river kept ducks far away from 
boardwalk, but calm air and calm water made the "seeing" quite good)
Gadwall--120
EURASIAN WIGEON--1
Am. Wigeon--45
Co. Goldeneye--3
Common Merganser--150
Bald Eagle--7, various ages

    School House Pond, PG Co.:
Trumpeter Swan--1
N. Shoveler--28
N. Pintail--1
Am. Coot--1
fewer than 100 gulls, mostly Ring-bills with a few Herrings

It was excellent January birding, despite frigid temperatures, primarily due 
to the almost total lack of wind, and therefore very calm water surfaces.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)