[MDOsprey] greater white-fronted goose at Conowingo
Don Burggraf (dburggraf@hotmail.com)
Fri, 12 Nov 1999 13:31:38 PST
There was only a moderate amount of gulls at Conowingo Friday, November 12.
The common species were present, including at least 15 Bonapartes (with at
least 80 more above the dam, with two Forster’s terns). Bald Eagle
watching was spectacular. I counted 30 for the day, although I almost
surely saw more. (It eventually got hard to tell whether I saw each
individual before or not). The big surprise for me was a greater
white-fronted goose, which flew in with a Canada. It appeared to be a
first-winter bird, just beginning to get the white line behind the beak.
The beak was bright orange, suggesting the Greenland race. Other treats at
Conowingo included a merlin (which I was able to admire through my scope as
it filled the field of view), an osprey (the yellow book suggests that this
is getting a little late for ospreys to remain), and *singing* winter wrens.
I stopped at Sesquehanna State Park on the way back and picked up a few
more species including creeper, both kinglets, and, as I tried in vain
examining pine thickets for a saw-whet owl, I discovered four hermit
thrushes hiding quietly. Speaking of saw-whet owls, I did find a dead one
along the road above Conowingo dam. (A dead raccoon lay beside it.)
While above the dam, I also saw an interesting loon. It was probably a
red-throated, since it was abviously smaller than the two common loons with
which it was traveling, its bill was slender and dark, and not as long as
the common loons’ bills. However, the plumage had a surprise. Overall, the
bird appeared to be in basic plumage. But, beginning on the cheek, a dark
line about one inch wide proceeded down the neck and to the shoulder. It
made quite a contrast to the white throat and lighter crown and nape. The
stripe confused me when I first saw the bird. For curiosity’s sake, I would
be interested to know whether anyone else ever spotted a loon with such a
transitional plumage.
Don Burggraf
Baltimore
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com