Greetings,
Four of us, Jay and Carol Hadlock, Martha Lang, and Dale Lichtblau, headed out
Saturday morning (Dec. 4) in 24 degree F weather to see what we could find for
the third annual FAS Waterfowl Count. After the cold and snow of the last two
years, it was nice to be out on a sunny, calm day.
The lake at Dulles Airport was our first stop, and one of the most productive
of the day. We had PIED-billed GREBES, CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS, HOODED
MERGANSERS, RUDDY DUCKS, RING-billed GULLS, and GREAT BLUE HERONS. The latter
aren't on the formal count sheet.
Area 13 included Bull Run Marina and the Upper Occaquan water treatment plant.
We also checked out various rural and office park ponds.
Totals for Area 13:
CANADA GOOSE 251
HOODED MERGANSER 14
KILDEER (at Bull Run Marina in the Occaquan River) 9
RING-billed GULL 7
Unlike the past two years, the water treatment plant was very quiet.
Totals for Area 14:
PIED-billed GREBE 3
CANADA GOOSE 747
AMERICAN WIGEON (on a pond at what use to be the Sallie Mae building in Reston)
1
MALLARD 40
HOODED MERGANSER 17
RUDDY DUCK 13
AMERICAN COOT 2
RING-billed GULLS 11
We did three of the Reston lakes--Newport, Thoreau, and Audubon and and they
were nearly devoid of waterfowl. Also, some of the ponds in the office parks
along Route 28 were dry because of new construction.
Also, unlike last year, we did not see any BUFFLEHEAD or RING-necked DUCKS
during our travels.
Jay and Carol Hadlock (and Martha and Dale)
Herdon, VAGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download :
http://explorer.msn.com
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