Miscellaneous Waterfowl Counts

Waterfowl diversity in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia has declined dramatically since most fresh-water ponds froze over a couple of weeks ago, now being limited mostly to resident Canada Geese and occasional Mallards (with the Shenandoah River in Jefferson County being a likely exception). Here are a few miscellaneous counts over the past several days:

Hardy County; Route 220 about 0.5-mi north of Moorefield (12/15):
Canada Goose - ca. 200 in flight above fields bordering South Branch of the Potomac River.

Hampshire County; small pond just south of Yellow Spring on Route 259 (12/15):
Mute Swan - 5 (4 adults, 1 immature) [Little is known about the status of this introduced species in West Virginia]

Berkeley County; Stonebridge Country Club (12/16):
Canada Goose - at least 300

Berkeley County; pond near Falling Waters on Route 11 (12/17):
Canada Goose - 15
Domestic Mallard - 3 (white Pekin-types)

Berkeley County; ponds at Laurel Ridge on Route 9 (12/19):
Domestic Mallard - 4 (1 wild-type, 3 white Pekin-types)

Berkeley County; pond on Route 45 (12/19):
Canada Goose - 16.