Conowingo Dam: Janary 9, 2010

Alex and I made another trip to Conowingo Dam to see the over-wintering eagles on Jan. 9th, along with our friends Mark and Lexi.  Before we left, this red fox was sitting in the field behind Alex's house.  He was far enough away that we did not disturb him.

On our way to the dam, we spotted this red-shouldered hawk very close to a busy road.  We got some great photos.  Also in the brush near the hawk was a hermit thrush, a gray catbird, a downy woodpecker, and also a yellow-bellied sapsucker.  At one point, the sapsucker was a few feet away from the red-shouldered in the tree, and the hawk just gave him a quick glance.

When we got to Conowingo Dam, there were far less eagles than what we had seen in December. This time there were only about 20, versus the over 200 we saw last month.  It was disappointing, but a hunting peregrine falcon over the dam was worth the trip.  It made numerous passes at the rock doves, flying incredibly fast and stooping and twisting, but we never saw it make a kill.  Also flying over the dam were canada geese, and one flock included a cackling goose.  There were also small flocks of common mergansers flying overhead.  There weren't as many gulls, either, as in December, but we did see greater-black backed (no lessers), herring, and ring-billed gulls.  There were also fish crows hanging about.

fish dropped by adult eagle in parking lot

black vulture

In the sycamores near the parking lot, we spotted numerous brown creepers, in addition to a red-bellied woodpecker.  On a trail near the dam, we spotted many golden-crowned kinglets, and even more brown creepers.

red-bellied woodpecker

brown creeper

After leaving the dam, we headed for Octoraro Lake.  On the way, I spotted this peregrine falcon darting low over a farm field.  Alex chased it down with some trick car moves in a narrow road, and Mark spotted it again over some houses.

peregrine falcon, Lloyds Road

At Octoraro Lake, there were hundreds of common mergansers and canada geese, in addition to herring and ring-billed gulls.  A small flock of scaup also flew by.  For the temperature (below freezing), there was a lot of open water on the lake, more than I had expected.  The mergansers really took advantage of this small area.  We ended the day with 44 species.

common mergansers, canada geese, gulls at Octoraro Lake