VA Birders, I went to Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary, Arlington Co.,
yesterday (Thursday, Mar. 1) about midday, before the rains set in, to check
the waterfowl there. To my surprise, one of the first birds I spotted was an
OSPREY, perched on a horizontal log across the big pond from the parking
lot.It was eating a leisurely lunch--presumably a fish--which it held tight
in its talons! Actually, I didn't see the bird until I scanned with my bins,
as it was hard to see it without them. Also of interest was a duck which I
believe was a GREATER SCAUP. It was consorting with 8 LESSER SCAUP (all
males), also in the big pond. When I first saw it, I thought its head seemed
much rounder than the other scaup, and when I finally got to view it in
profile with a Lesser Scaup, the Greater Scaup appeared to have a slightly
larger head and bill. I also found a flock of 55 CANADA GEESE on the lawn at
Gravelly Point, across the parkway, which I checked carefully, but alas, I
was not able to make any of them into Cackling Geese! Good birding, Val
Kitchens Arlington, VA
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