I scoped the waterfowl from the visitor center at Mason Neck State Park where I
observed a huge American Coot raft of maybe 3000 birds. There were also
Gadwall, American Wigeon, Canvasbacks,and Redheads in good numbers. At the
Great Marsh while viewing from the Woodmarsh Trail platform, our group of
birders on a Friends of Mason Neck sponsored swan walk observed 130 Tundra
Swans, hundreds of American Black Ducks and Northern Pintail, a few
Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers and a Hooded Merganser couple. In the
distance there were more large rafts of coots along with many Canvasbacks and
Redheads. The big Lesser Scaup rafts are also back,
Larry Meade
Merrifield, VA
