Hi Folks,

The icy conditions and marginal weather were ideal for getting out and
finding some good birds today when Bill Hubick and I did a weekend survey
of the Swan Creek/Cox Creek property in northern Anne Arundel County, near
the Key Bridge.  The highlight was a group of nine SNOW BUNTINGs on the far
side of the north cell dike from the office.    We also tallied a total of
17 AMERICAN PIPITs in various locations, most of them being on the beach.
The south cell, which had been almost dry for several years, filled
somewhat after last summer's monsoons in August and September.  For some
reason, this cell has become very attractive to waterfowl, and we had more
than 1200 ducks there today, including 14 CANVASBACKs, three GREEN-WINGED
TEAL, and the continuing male REDHEAD.  Eleven species of duck were
tallied, with over 1000 being scaup, of which six were Greater, and the
remainder were Lesser or scaup sp.

Several first-of-year species were picked up for the property, including
BONAPARTE'S GULL, FIELD SPARROW, and WINTER WREN.  VIRGINIA RAILs continue
in the mitigated wetland, and we found two today, which readily responded
to clapping.

With the number of ducks amassing in the south cell, this might be a good
place to find a rarity at a relatively modest distance (e.g. Tufted Duck).

Though Swan Creek is not opened to the public on weekends, it will be
opened again on Monday at 7 a.m.  Please see the following note for hours.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale



 *** NOTE: Swan Creek/Cox Creek is an active industrial site and mitigation
project in northern Anne Arundel Co. Access is at the end of Kembo Road off
Fort Smallwood Road near 695. The site is open ONLY Monday through Friday,
7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please be in your car and leaving at 3:30 p.m..
Remember to always sign in at the office, to be on your best behavior
(people have worked hard to coordinate this access), and to stick to
permitted areas. This Swan Creek map linked here details where you are and
aren't allowed to walk. http://www.billhubick.com/docs/swan_creek_map.jpg.
***

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