A stop by at Roaches Run on late Sunday afternoon was very entertaining.
No geese, but plenty of gulls. Lots of Ring-billed and at least 4 Greater
Black-Backed Gulls resting on the ice. Several enterprising Ring-billed
entertained with their trips to the shallows to pick up clams and mussels.
They then flew over to the part of the waters that had frozen and dropped their
shellfish on the ice. It was pretty orderly, and no fighting over clam
splatter. It certainly explained all the "dark litter" on the ice.
There were also at least 35 charismatic Hooded Mergansers, 7 Blue Heron, 5 Pied
Billed Grebe (Had to run back to the car to get the scope to tell for sure), 4
American Coot, and a pair of Mallards hanging out in the open waters. The Pied
Billed Grebes were resting by the Beaver Lodge -- if you go looking for them.
I also heard a White-Throated Sparrow and saw several Song Sparrows in the
woody margins around the water. There were no Buffleheads out in the water to
be found.
Denise Ryan, League of Conservation Voters
(202) 785-8683
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