Good morning,
I didn't have a chance to post yesterday morning, but I spotted four female
Common Goldeneyes at Mason Neck State Park, in Lorton (Fairfax County). They
were swimming not far off shore behind the Visitor Center. I scoped them and
observed the rusty head, stubby bill, grayish body with a slightly paler
breast, and white patch on the wing. No pale cheek like the ruddies I had
expected when I spotted the small shapes. They were eventually spooked by the
lawn mower my coworker rode but I expect they're still on Belmont Bay nearby.
I last saw them flying toward the mouth of Kanes Creek.
Also in Belmont Bay were five Tundra Swans and a raft of at least a couple
hundred ducks, probably mostly scaup and ruddies. I didn't have a chance to
scope the raft so don't know if anything more interesting was there. I had to
get back into the Visitor Center to work.
Good birding,
Jodi Bucknam
Mason Neck State Park
Lorton, VA
