Hello All, I took what I thought would be a quick run to Point Lookout State
Park on Saturday. When I arrived about 9:00AM I found that on the Chesapeake
side the ice extended about 400 yards off shore (solid) and another 100
yards mixed open water and slush ice and then open water. The area where the
open water started is about 20-22ft deep with hard oystershell bottom.
Feeding in huge rafts were approximately 50,000 to 75,000 sea ducks. The
birds covered an area from just north of Scotland Beach Rd to the area where
the Bay and the Potomac River meet. On the River side of the Point were
approximately 5,000 to 8,000 additional sea ducks in several small rafts.
Because of the distance on the Bayside I was unable to ID with any accuracy
the large offshore rafts, however on the River side where the ice was not a
factor I was able to ID all the normal species we get at Point Lookout this
time of year. I was unable to pick out any Eiders or Barrows Goldeneye, nor
any Harlequin Ducks. If the numbers and ice continue at Point Lookout a good
possibility exists for the mentioned species to show up and if anyone is
down this way please make an extra effort to scan these birds for the
odd/rare species. When I left about 12 noon my old eyes were burnt out but I
may go again this afternoon. Good Birding, Marty Cribb, St Mary's Co, Md


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