Barbara Gearhart and I walked  upriver on the Canal towpath from
Mouth-of-Monocacy, most of the way to Noland's Ferry, this afternoon looking
for ducks on the river.  We found numerous Common Mergansers all along the
river. Initially we found several sets of 2 or 3 Goldeneye. On the way back
to the cars, we abandoned the towpath and slogged through the snow and
slippery mud in the woods along the river. Near the downriver end of Cox
Island (the first island up from the Monocacy), we located a sizable group
of Goldeneye, both males and females.  We watched this group for over 30
minutes; our high count was 21 Goldeneye in this group. Some of the males
were doing courtship displays (very interesting).  Not much else on the
river except gulls.   Barbara spotted an adult Herring Gull as we crossed
the aqueduct bridge returning to the lot.  Topping off the day was a large
group of blooming Snow-drops near the parking lot.
-- 
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.