[CT Birds] Ducks and Redpolls

[Carrier Graphics]

I agree with Dennis when he said - 

"Who says that birds migrating north do not retreat when prudent,
 especially waterfowl that need open water. I wouldn't be surprised
 that eager ducks fly inland looking for open water and not finding it
 return to the coast. Locally, when reservoirs are freezing and
 thawing, one can see an increase in birds on the coast when they freeze."

This has been my thinking about ducks moving inland as well - They possibly push north, then when encountering no open water, push back south and wait again.  30-50-100 miles flying inland is not excessive to turn back and settle again where they started from. 

 For those of you who are not living or traveling in northern CT, As an example - In West Hartland, adding to the already 8" of snowpack on the ground in most places, a new 1 to 2" were put down yesterday from the numerious snow squalls. And all the reservoirs and ponds I checked, all were completely frozen, with a few having open water starting only near the edges. Our State is so diverse in climate.  We have a ways to go here still...

Yesterday in Colebrook on a frozen field with an open 3' square water pool were 2 very cold looking SNIPE.

here in Harwinton, I counted 30 COMMON REDPOLLS at the feeders after 4 days of none. Don't think they are returns of my winter flock. I also observed a possible reason Redpolls have been so spooked here all winter. While 10 were on the thistle, and 20 on the ground, a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew through the ground birds - catching one with ease as they all flew up into a near tree. 

Paul Carrier