Hi Folks,

Yesterday and today I visited several locations in Anne Arundel Co., getting
some good waterfowl counts.  Following a Saturday morning (11 Dec) survey at
Swan Creek, where the seldom seen FOX SPARROW was the best find, I headed
down to Herrington Harbor, where I've been attempting to make a visit every
week or two.  The massive flock of over 1000 Canada Geese across the road
yielded nothing of interest, but the harbor itself was very productive with
the highly unusual lack of wind.  I walked out the north jetty, stopping
periodically to scan the waterfowl to the south, consisting mostly of Surf
Scoters and scaups.  About half way down the jetty I first noticed a group
of shorebirds on the rocks on the north side, and after a minute or two of
watching and counting I tallied 14 PURPLE SANDPIPERs.  The little flock
moved down to the end ahead of me, and then flew across to the south jetty
when unable to keep a safe distance from me.  I spent about 40 minutes
scanning the flat water of the bay, counting 570 SURF SCOTERs, but only a
single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and not a single Black today.  Every scaup I was
able to identify was a greater.

Next on the agenda was Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, which had a terrific
variety as well as good numbers of waterfowl.  From the overlook I was able
to pick out a pair of AMERICAN WIGEONs, a very local and often tough to find
bird in AA Co.  Also had my first COMMON MERGANSERs of the season, 11 of
them, well shy of the count that Danny Bystrak had seen from a different
vantage point.  Over 100 Black Ducks and nearly 100 Pintails were decent
counts.  Extensive mudflats were created by the very low afternoon tide, and
I tallied about 50 RUSTY BLACKBIRDs out on the mud with a handful of
Red-wings.  I studied the hundreds and hundreds of Canada Geese south of the
blind, but could not come up with a goody, and saw no hint of the
White-fronted Goose seen by Danny B.

After leaving Jug Bay, in a small flock of about 60 Canada Geese along
Plummer Lane, I finally found a single Richardson's CACKLING GOOSE.

My last productive stop of the day was viewing the quarry south of Sands
Road Park from a dirt road call Macpumphrey Lane or Road.  Variety was
lacking, but I counted 85 GADWALL, a new ebird high-water mark for AA
County.

This morning (Sunday, 12 Dec) I visited Patapsco Pond #10, located where the
BW Parkway crosses the Patapsco River.  Here I found only two species of
duck:  Hooded Merganser (23) and NORTHERN SHOVELER, with a new high count
for this venue of 38.  The Great Egrets were gone--I had counted ten of them
here last weekend following the heads-up by Dan Haas.

Yesterday's yard birds found by Elaine included FOX SPARROW and RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, both nice material for the weekly Project Feederwatch.

This weekend provided a nice respite from the frigid temperatures and wind
that should once again be upon us in the morning.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale