FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Manassas Comfort Suite Pond grebes (Prince William Co)

[Frederick Atwood <fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx>]

Following Sue Heath's post this morning I took my
ornithology students to view the waterfowl at the
pond behind Comfort Suites first described by
Laura Catterton a couple days ago.  We were there
from about 3:30-4:30 today (3/6/03). The wind was
wicked cold but we were very excited by the great
views we had of the following birds:
--4 red-necked grebes: very active: diving,
swimming long distance underwater, coming up with
a fish and being mobbed by ring-billed gulls,
then diving to retreat and eat the fish in peace.
None were in breeding plumage but I hadn't seen
Todd's note about keeping track of plumage before
we left so we didn't pay close attention to that
unfortunately.  At one point, before we got out
of the minibus, and before I could photograph it,
one of the grebes was only about 10 feet from
shore.  A great view was had by all.  The grebes
had been diving so much that we hadn't been able
get them in the scope for everyone to see before.
--1 pair of redheads (they came up from their
dives with underwater plants in their beaks)
--several ring-necked ducks, mostly male (about 7
male and about 3 female--we didn't count)
--1 male Lesser Scaup
--several Hooded Mergansers (my students'
favorite) about 8-10. They were also diving quite
a lot and the gulls hung out around them too.
--10 ring-billed gulls whose numbers rapidly grew
to over 80 as a woman arrived with 3 loaves of
bread to feed the gulls and the white domestic
duck, Mallard hybrids, and Canada Geese.  The
students helped her feed the birds and meanwhile
had a great time watching the behavior of these
gulls (boxing each other out, beating the geese
and mallards to the bread, chasing and stealing
in flight, begging call with head toss,
trumpet-call, etc) and studying the various
plumages of this species.  Some were in stunning
breeding plumage with bright eye-rings and mouth
linings and brilliant yellow in their beaks and
feet. 

To get to this pond, take rte 234 S from route 66
and turn LEFT very soon (maybe the 2nd or 3rd
left?)  The view of this V-shaped pond is best
from behind Comfort Suites at the apex of the V
but can be seen from parking lots behind other
buildings too.
All the best
Fred Atwood


=====
Frederick D. Atwood     fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675     
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more
http://taxes.yahoo.com/
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.