VA Birders,
Pat Blyer, Bill Cross, and I decided to heed Sue Heath's advice (thanks,
Sue!) about going out to the Harrison Road (Rt. 750) pond in Fauquier County,
so we arrived there at about 11:00 am this morning (Saturday, Dec. 21). We
found the large flock of geese Sue had mentioned in and around the pond, and
a few ducks were there as well. Bill noticed some wigeon on the grass near
the left edge of the pond, and we soon discovered that one of them was a
beautiful drake EURASIAN WIGEON! We saw the rusty cheeks and buff forehead,
as well as the gray sides and white wing bar in our scopes. Then, scanning a
little farther to the left of the pond, we found the Greater White-fronted
Goose in the field. The wigeon and goose were both Life Birds for Pat, and
the wigeon was a Life Bird for Bill. Both were good year birds for me. In
addition, we saw a very pale bird in the pond with the Canadas which we
thought was probably an immature Snow Goose. Sue and Todd, have you seen
this bird with the Canada Goose flock?
In addition to the American & Eurasian Wigeon, other ducks we saw on the
pond were at least 1 male Bufflehead and a pair of Ring-necked Ducks. We
also saw an immature Bald Eagle perched in a tree to the right of the pond,
and a little later, this bird flew very low right over our heads! A farmer
who stopped and chatted with us told us that the pond has had open water for
about 2 days now.
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
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