MANY THANKS  to all the Ospreyers who sent me suggestion for finding
Goldeneye and other duckies on the Choptank. My trip was a great success. I
started out at the marina off Rt.50 on the Talbot Co. side, where I found
several groups of  Goldeneye.  They were a bit far out,and with the choppy
water they did not provide very good views. So, I moved on to the Dorchester
Co. side and started out at Oakley St., where I found  mostly Canavasbacks
and Scaup, with a few Bufflehead.  At Somerset Point/Park, I looked upriver
and found a few pair of Goldeneye that provided better views.  I  then move
upriver to the little sandy area on Hambrooks Ave, by the pond. Here I found
a full-breeding plumage male, a 1st winter ( transitional)  male, and a
couple of adult females, all very close in; about 40 or 50 yards from the
shore.  I got super scope- views of the male in full sunlight. I could
clearly see the beautiful green head, golden eye, and black pattern on the
white sides.  I  also watched these birds from the end of nearby Queen Anne
Ave;  again the birds were very close and the full-sun views were
spectacular.  I watch them for about  30 minutes.  As I was about to leave,
I spotted a second male and three females about 100-yards out and watched
them all for another 15 minutes or so. Amazing and spectacular views of
those striking birds.  Otherwise in the same cove were about 15 Tundra
Swans, a big bunch of ruddies, some Scaup, more Canvasbacks, and some more
Bufflehead. There was not a large number of ducks at any location, but the
Goldeneye views were truly spectacular; as good as I could imagine.
Nothing much of note at Blackwater:  Bald eagles, (I missed the golden), no
Snow Geese, but lots of Tundra Swans everywhere; also some Shovelers and
Pintails.
Thanks again for the Goldeneye assistance.
-- 
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.