Hi Folks,
Following last weekend's success I returned to Blackwater NWR, Dorchester
Co. this morning. The WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS continue along Egypt Rd. The
biggest difference today was the substantial increase in waterfowl.
Thousands of Canada Geese and over a hundred Tundra Swans filled the skies
out of the refuge as I worked my way down Egypt Rd. At the refuge I was
met by several thousands more Canada Geese, a very vocal flock of roughly
3000 SNOW GEESE and hundreds of Tundra Swans, Mallards and NORTHERN
PINTAILS. I could not locate any Ross's Geese among the Snow Geese, but I
did find a single CACKLING GOOSE in the middle of the flock. Three more
CACKLING GEESE were seen on the river east of the entrance to the Wildlife
Drive. On a later loop around the Wildlife Drive in the afternoon I heard
an unfamiliar cackle in the air and quickly fixed my bins on a lone goose
approaching the fields by the Visitor Center, an adult GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE!! It landed right next to the roadside so I hastily
made my way past all the other cars along the loop to get back to Key
Wallace Drive. I managed to relocate it just as it disappeared into a corn
crop and shortly after the flock lifted and it took off in direction Egypt
Rd.
Other birds of note: A 3rd cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, an AMERICAN
WOODCOCK sloooowly moon-walking across Tubman Rd., 7 AMERICAN PIPITS, and
FOX SPARROW. Bald Eagles were present in strength, but not as active as
last weekend. They were mostly standing on the ice feasting on plentiful
amounts of dead fish.

Photos will follow soon;o)

Good Birding!

Frode Jacobsen
Windsor Mill, MD 21244