Hi Folks,

Once I got Dan's message about a GWF Goose, I headed over to Gibson Island
to see if I could see it.  I was successful.  Here are the particulars:
having never been even close to Gibson Island before, I approached the
security gate, and pulled off on the right of the road where there is room
for three or four vechicles to park.  I walked to the guard house and asked
the gate guard if it would be OK to scope for waterfowl, since a rare bird
had been located in the area.  He said it was OK, provided I did not take
pictures, and stayed on the right side of the road.

As you face the island, the bay is to the left of the causeway, but is not
well viewed because of a tall fence.  You can scope through the fence, but
you cannot get around it or beyond it.  To the right of the causeway is a
large lagoon, and some of the island's homes are on the waterfront of this
lagoon.  The lagoon is easily scoped.  The only birds in the lagoon were a
handful of Buffleheads, Mallards, and DC Cormorants.  I happened to notice
on the lawn of one of the houses across the lagoon a few geese, 18 in
number, and when I put my scope on them I was very pleasantly surprised to
see that the one closest to the water was the White-front.  It was facing
me, and I could easily see a pale breast and large dark patch on the belly.
When it turned its head I could see the orange bill and white face.  Its
legs were clearly orange, and its size was noticeably smaller than the
neighboring Canadas.  After enjoying this bird for a minute or two, I took a
field guide over to the gate guard and showed him what I was looking at, and
that it was a rare bird from Greenland.  He thanked me for the info.

I scoped the bay as best I could through the fence, but only found several
large rafts of scaup with a few cormorants; no RN Grebe to be seen.

Anyway, thank you, thank you, and thank you again Dan Haas for posting on
this bird--a long sought county bird for me.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)









----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan haas" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:54 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] GWFG & Red-Necked Grebe / N. Anne Arundel


> Hello Everyone,
>
> This morning, thanks to a report from my friend Chris Vernick, I went
> to see a GREATER-WHITE FRONTED GOOSE on Gibson Island.  The island is
> private and access is limited to those who live on the island and
> guests.  I called in a favor with a friend who was able to get me on
> the island.
>
> The bird is hanging out with 5 Canada Geese just on the other side of
> the causeway onto the island.  It spends it's time on land and
> sometimes in the cove on the Western side (not the Bay) of the
> causeway.  It might be scope-able from the security gate.
>
> While I was there a RED-NECKED GREBE hanging out in the Bay, keeping
> company with 5 Horned Grebes nearby.  Now THAT bird would be
> scope-able from outside the security gate.
>
> When I was leaving, I asked the security guard about getting other
> birders onto the island.  Two cars got behind me (looking to leave)
> and at that moment, he very briefly told me that folks are welcome to
> scope from outside the gate.  I didn't press the issue and let those
> waiting behind me leave the island.
>
> Good Birding,
>
> Dan Haas
> West Annapolis, MD
> 
>