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Subject:

ANHINGA -- Lilypons Water Gardens (Frederick Co.)

From:

James Moore

Reply-To:

James Moore

Date:

Sun, 3 May 2009 12:02:58 -0400

I had excellent looks this morning at a female-type Anhinga (sexes 
are similar until the third winter) at Lilypons Water Gardens. I 
first saw the bird when it flew up into one of the trees 
(presumably from the water) that line the large impoundment that 
is to the right as you enter, and in back of several Quonset hut 
shaped white structures that I presume are greenhouses (this is 
also the impoundment behind the rusty bicycle if you know where 
that is). It then flew further away from the impoundment to the 
top of one of the largest trees in the area, displaying the 
unmistakable and unique flight shape of long, thin slightly kinked 
neck, almost equally long tail, relatively short wings, and long 
pointed bill. It had limited white on the back, indicating it was 
not a full adult. I've seen hundreds in Florida, but this is the 
first time I have seen one further north.

I was visiting the area after Gemma Radko's Montgomery Bird Club 
Little Bennett trip was cut short due to rain. I thought 
waterbirds might still be about despite the rain, and I guess I 
lucked out. Other birds of interest were a singing Prothonotary 
Warbler (which is what I was trying to get a look at when the 
Anhinga surprised me), and another birder, who unfortunately had 
left by the time I sighted the Anhinga, reported a Sora, Solitary 
Sandpiper, and Greater Yellowlegs.

Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland