I took a leisurely walk this afternoon (4:30 - 6:45 p.m.) going upstream from Pennyfield Lock and was surprised to see a female merganser with about 7-8 ducklings. The merganser was in an area a little upstream of the lockhouse where there is a sheltered area that feeds into the river. I stopped to look at two WOOD DUCKS when she saw me before I saw her and she paddled furiously out with most of the babies clinging to her back. I couldn't get a clear look as she was going away from me and there were many trees and twigs between the two of us. I'm assuming that it was a Common Merganser. The new atlas says that C. Merg ducklings have been seen as early as April 6 and Red-breasted Mergs aren't even listed.

Other notable birds:

FOY BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHERS
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET

In the second impoundment heading upstream I spotted 2 pairs of GREEN-WINGED TEAL quite close to a very large snapping turtle. The turtle was ignoring the ducks as he/she was concentrating on the other snapper there. There were several pairs of snappers doing what turtles do this time of year.

As I started back downstream I suddenly saw another snapping turtle dragging itself across the towpath who then just flopped down right in the middle of the path. As I was contemplating what course of action (or direction!) I should take, I saw some movement in the impoundment and saw two PALM WARBLERS. The snapper continued its trek when I approached it and it slid down into the canal. 

There were about 40 DC CORMORANTS huddled on an island that was quite flooded.

I also had two FOY Zebra Swallowtails.

All in all, a lovely afternoon with many surprises.

Anna Urciolo
Rockville, MD


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