Hi Everyone, 

I did a  little birding last Saturday around the Patapco river Area Southwest Baltimore with friend Sykes. We checked River and Nursery roads Eagle nests for possible mating signs but didnt get any Eagle action . We then went to  Fort Amistead Park and Stony Creek (one Accipiter )  searching for the reported Redthroated Loons in the Patapsco river  area and only found Gulls , Pigeons , Cormmorants (least 100 Cormmorant on the fort in the middle of the river )There was one Eagle flying around the entrance road at Fort Amistead . Heading westward possibly to the nest in the  Marley creek area . On the way back via Pennington Ave.  we came across a big group of ducks in Cabin Branch Creek ( this sits next to Curtis Creek in Curtis Bay Area )wow does that make sense ??? Curtis Bay isnt Bay...  i dont think .... Its the name of the neighborhood  .Probably brain freeze from all the snow . Anyway Since it was off work hours we were able to park on a side street
 and walk back and scope for something good. The ducks were approx. 500 feet away . There were about 100 Canvasback , 100 Scaup , 50 Canada Goose , 20 Mallard and 50 Gulls (Ringbilled and Herring)1 Redtailed Hawk . Im posting this since i did see this flock here on my way to work this morning and maybe they're  worth keeping a check on . There were also at least 400 gulls  on the river   by Harbor Hospital on Hanover street in South Baltimore City . I only scanned them for any possible ducks . there were none . Not even a Bufflehead in the general area . UHHHH!!!!

Now would like to give a plug for the Hawks from drive home in Brooklyn to work in Annapolis  . .... I have 1 Juvenile Cooper still harassing my yard birds( got 2 Mourning doves that i know of so far), 2 Redshouldereds in the neighborhood that nested here somewhere last summer . my first summer here and so i am determined to find this nest if the snow melts before springtime.  pair of Redtails   Rt. 10 x Furnace Branch  rd. area Glen burnie, Red shouldered pair Rt. 10 cross Mountain rd.Glen burnie , Redshouldered pair East West blvd. x B and A bike trail , Redshouldered pair East West blvd . at the park Millersville , Redtails Rt 695 x Rt. 97 Linthicum , Red shouldereds Rt. 97 x Dorsey Rd.Linthicum , Redtails Papa somebodies farm Rt. 97 Millersville , Redshoulders and Redtails here at work by the Annapolis Mall . I was very excited  to see my Bachelor Redshouldered   come in with a partner last week . bringing her to the nest area where his wife last
 year got eaten. Im hoping they chose a different place to nest as i dont like the natural food chain idea . Well Mr Owl can eat birds  just not MYYYYY birds. 

Oh would like to mention Blackwater Eagle Festival showing a date of March 13 . Three Saturdays from now .I think this is a good opportunity for birders to get together . They do birdwalk at 8:00 am .  Not sure how the snow will effect this. Will check for any updated info. if interested the webaddress www.friendsofblackwater.org . if you havent done the wildlife drive here you dont know what you are missing. 

Saundra Byrd 

baltimore