[MDOsprey] afternoon Floyd report, DC Potomac River (w-w scoter)

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ospreyites,

my experience this afternoon at constitution gardens, the tidal basin, and
east potomac park was similar to rob's - nothing flying up or downriver.

the most interesting bird by far was a white-winged scoter in the washington
channel, DC, not far from where the pacific loon was sighted in 1998.  The
scoter was keeping odd company as it swam upriver in midchannel -- two
adult male mallards, and a duckling sp. (probably mallard).

I'd never seen the two species together -- the scoter looked very slightly
smaller and trimmer than the mallards.  The one odd thing about it was a
whitish spot on the back of the head, about where you would expect one on
a surf scoter, but less pronounced.  feather wear?  molt?  I've only seen
scoter in winter plumage.

the only other birds of note present were about a dozen laughing gulls, a
caspian tern, and an osprey.

Robert Weiner (rweiner@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu)
International Business Department
George Washington University
Washington DC 20052
202 994 5981

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