I found a female Harlequin Duck during a walk around Eastport this afternoon. It was found in a mixed flock containing 4 Greater Scaup, 6 Am. Coots, 4 Buffleheads and a couple of Ruddy Ducks. The birds were viewed from the east end of Chesapeake Ave on the Severn River in Eastport, Annapolis, from a small sandy beach called Fort Horn Park (38.973265,-76.476479). The Harlequin was identifiable with binoculars by looking east southeast, but a scope would be nice. There is an old jetty that they were foraging around; actively diving: 38.973014,-76.475535.
Bird totals for neighborhood walk were 2 Canvasbacks, 20 Ruddy Ducks, 20 Bufflehead, 8 Am. Coots, 8 Mallards, 1 Harlequin Duck!, 40 Ring-billed Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls, 50 Am. Robins, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, and the expected yard bird-type species. The "Oregon" Junco is still coming to my feeder as well for the 2nd straight month.
Good Birding,
Frank Marenghi
Annapolis, MD |