I took a bracing two-hour visit to Black Hill Regional Park and
Little Seneca Lake this morning, January 16. Many of the waterfowl
were sheltering from the wind at lake edges on south facing parts of
the park. Most notable were 34 Tundra Swans on the ice in the
Ten-mile Creek area, 50+ Common Mergansers, and almost as many Hooded
Mergansers. Canvasbacks and Ring-necked Ducks were in pretty small
numbers -- smaller than usual here. At one point I counted 33
Pied-billed Grebes huddled together in among a Ruddy Duck Flock. I
could find just one Common Goldeneye. Bufflehead were here and
there, but not in great numbers.
A large flock of Ring-billed Gulls sitting on the water was seen to
contain at least 10 Bonaparte's Gulls as the whole flock took off
when approached by two adult Bald Eagles. I also got a good look at
two flying (and croaking) Common Ravens -- first time I have seen Ravens here.
The land birding was surprisingly good on the lakeside trail just
east of Route 121, north of the bridge. Wintering groups contained
numerous Cedar Waxwings and American Goldfinches, 6 Pine Siskins, 2
Hermit Thrushes, 2 Winter Wrens, 2 Towhees, a Hairy Woodpecker, a
Flicker, and lots of Song and White-throated Sparrows.
The temperature was 12 degrees F. when I arrived, and by the time I
left, just before noon, it had soared to 14.
Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD
D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom |