A friend and I walked the entire shoreline at Occoquan this morning from Fox
Rd. around past Easy Rd and Deephole Pt. to Charlie Rd and back to the lot.
There were lots of ducks of the usual varieties The best birds were several
male Red-breasted Mergansers just before Easy Rd., with one bird actively
feeding very close to the shore, affording excellent views. Just past
Deephole Pt. another birder and I counted 14 Horned Grebes, two of which
were molting into breeding plumage; one was about 1/3 in and the other about
2/3 in. They all seemed to be together in a line with the other ducks. A
bit further down was another Horned Grebe (no.15) that was feeding VERY
close to shore and was in almost full breeding plumage, even the reddish
sides; had very good looks in the sun. . The King Rail was calling in the
marsh at easy Rd.. Other ducks included Scaup, Ring-necked, Redheads,
Canvasbacks, Gadwall, Widgeon, Shovelers , Bufflehead, Ruddy ducks, Black
ducks, a pair of Wood Ducks, and some Pied billed Grebes. Lots of
Cormorants, Osprey, Eagles, and the weather couldn't be beat.
--
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.
