I enjoyed a nice visit to Silver Lake park in Prince William County this
morning. The lake was still frozen but the quarry was ice free and full of
waterfowl. Hundreds of geese and ducks of 11 species were present, including
Canada goose, ring-necked duck (about 100), redhead (many), lesser scaup,
bufflehead, ruddy duck, gadwall, mallard, canvasback, hooded merganser, and
common merganser. Other highlights were a very photogenic merlin, 7 woodpecker
species, hermit thrush, creeper, both kinglets, cedar waxwing, and fox sparrow.
I tallied 53 species in all.
Marc Ribaudo
