Barrow's Goldeneye at Elms Environmental Center in St. Mary's County

[Frances Raskin]

Susan Haskew and I had great scope views of the Barrow's Goldeneye at Elms Environmental Center from about 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. yesterday morning. We walked north from the beach access at the Environmental Center along the beach as far as possible, climbing over and ducking under fallen trees. The Barrow's Goldeneye was in the usual place, near the pound nets, with two dozen Common Goldeneyes, about 40 Buffleheads, and 10 Ruddy Ducks. We also saw 15 Black Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, and 2 Horned Grebes. On the pond near the main house, were many Bonaparte's Gulls and one Belted Kingfisher.

[jugbayjs]

Timing is everything ... sadly I missed this bird yesterday, my main target of the morning. I was birding with my daughter yesterday in St Mary's, and we started at Point Lookout. It was so quiet there (unbirdy) it was odd, given the nice weather offered after being barraged for the last 24 hours with total winter crap. I expected more activity but was surprised - especially with so few waterfowl. The only birds of note we found there were a single WW Scoter, and a Fox Sparrow singing like crazy (always great to hear them). But birding there with my 11yo daughter was still great (her first time there).

Then we went on to the Elms to look for the Barrow's. We were there a while (1.5 hrs) and had no luck. We began at south end, and methodically scoped our way north. We were close to the pound nets when we saw you returning, and were bolstered by your positive report, so we stopped scoping and went straight to the nets. There were not many birds there when we arrived about 10 minutes later, but I scoped them all carefully. I scoped way across the cove there (past nets, to north), and far out into the bay, and as far as I could see to the south from that vantage. I did this about 10-11 times being very thorough, but clearly the Barrow's was NOT present. And based on your report, many of the birds you saw moved between when you left and when we arrived. Oh well.

Most interesting birds we saw there were a single imm brown pelican; it was resting tucked up on the shore to the north of the pound nets and close to a residence. Also a single Forster's tern out on the Bay (perched on a stake), and the flock of Bonaparte's gulls at the pond by the Elms Center (looked; no Little Gull). I recall they were also there when I saw the Barrow's here in late 2011 and early 2012. Maybe it's a winter roost for them?

It was interesting to see Patty C got the Barrow's in the afternoon after we left, she noted it was farther out in the Bay. Obviously it moves around, so if you try for it perhaps it would be good to allow extra time in case it is not there when you get there. And avoid trying in the wind if possible, it adds a lot of time to amount of viewing required!

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom, MD

[James Tyler Bell]

The Elms (both the public beach and the education center) are part of my sector in the Pt. Lookout CBC. Has been for eons. There is almost always a nice flock of Bonaparte's Gulls at the pond though absent when it's frozen. This year, they were not present but had been further north somewhere and came streaming south then flew out onto the pond and began feeding. The tide had been ebbing so perhaps they time it when the tide is out?

I must be lucky. I've seen it three times, each on the day of the CBC, including the first day when I originally found it! And, I only go there once a year ;)

I'm surprised that there was only one Brown Pelican. Often, there are at least a dozen either perched on the net pilings or in the water near the end of the net.

Tyler Bell
jtyle...@yahoo.com
California, Maryland

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From: jugbayjs <JugB...@gmail.com>
To: mdbi...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2014 3:00 PM
Subject: [MDBirding] Re: Barrow's Goldeneye at Elms Environmental Center in St. Mary's County

Most interesting birds we saw there were a single imm brown pelican; it was resting tucked up on the shore to the north of the pound nets and close to a residence. Also a single Forster's tern out on the Bay (perched on a stake), and the flock of Bonaparte's gulls at the pond by the Elms Center (looked; no Little Gull). I recall they were also there when I saw the Barrow's here in late 2011 and early 2012. Maybe it's a winter roost for them?

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom, MD

On Monday, January 13, 2014 1:18:08 PM UTC-5, Frances Raskin wrote:
> Susan Haskew and I had great scope views of the Barrow's Goldeneye at Elms Environmental Center from about 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. yesterday morning. We walked north from the beach access at the Environmental Center along the beach as far as possible, climbing over and ducking under fallen trees. The Barrow's Goldeneye was in the usual place, near the pound nets, with two dozen Common Goldeneyes, about 40 Buffleheads, and 10 Ruddy Ducks. We also saw 15 Black Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, and 2 Horned Grebes. On the pond near the main house, were many Bonaparte's Gulls and one Belted Kingfisher.

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