VA BIRDers,
A quick walk morning north from Riverside Park along the hike-bike trail
produced a nice collection of waterfowl with 7 Long-tailed Ducks in the
middle of the Potomac (and completely in Maryland!) a bit south of the mouth
of Broad Creek, MD and across from Collingwood. The Pied-billed Grebe
numbers (9) were down by about an order of magnitude from Nov 29th. In
addition, a fine group of at least 50 Rusty Blackbirds were along the
parkway near Fort Hunt Park near the swampy portion of the trail. Mixed in
with the Rusty's was a single Common Grackle.
Later, in mid-afternoon, I visited Dyke Marsh to scope waterfowl off the
picnic area - the tide was about half way in. Top species was Cackling
Goose, mixed in with the Canada Geese. I noted the first appearance of
Common Merganser (at least, for me) here, too.
For the waterfowl lovers, the day's totals follow.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 710
Cackling Goose 1
Gadwall 1046
Am. Wigeon 145
Am. Black Duck 35
Mallard 339
No. Shoveler 2
Green-winged Teal 1
Canvasback 2
Ring-necked Duck 20
Lesser Scaup 136
Long-tailed Duck 7
Bufflehead 79
Hooded Merganser 14
Common Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 44
Pied-billed Grebe 9
Horned Grebe 1
DC Cormorant 12
Am. Coot 700
