[CT Birds] Hitther and Yon

[Mntncougar at aol.com]

Several different stops today-
 
Coventry Lake: 
c 25 Ring-necked Ducks
 17 Common Mergansers
 6 Hooded Mergansers
  All In the cove off Rt 31 at the  beach.
 
Mansfield Hollow:  the lone male Canvasback is still  there but out in the 
main lake when i saw him.  He has about 50 Common  Mergansers for company now.
 
Natchaug State Forest - Beaver Dam Marsh:  when I arrived  there  were 27 
Ring-necked Ducks, 5 Common Goldeneye and 4 Hooded  Mergansers along with 
Mallards and Canada Geese.  As I was watching, a very  large black bird flashed in 
front of my scope and attacked the  Ring-necks.  When I looked up there were 2 
BALD EAGLES,  1  adult and 1 3rd year immature (he was mostly all black).   The 
 adult landed and watched as the youngster attacked the ducks time after 
time,  with tremedous splashing as they all dove to get away.  That went on for  
about 5 minutes and as far as I know neither bird ever got anyone.  They  both 
flew away, followed shortly thereafter by most of the ducks.  I had a  great 
front row seat.
2 Bald Eagles
27 Ring-necked Ducks
5 Common Goldeneye
4 Hooded Mergansers
12 Canada Geese    
10 Mallards 
 
Station 43 Marsh:  mostly conservative estimates  -
35 Ring-necked Ducks 
20 Mallards
8 Wood Ducks
2 Northern Pintails
20 Black Ducks
12 Canada Geese
2 Great Blue Heron fly-overs
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Male American Kestral
1 Mute Swan
The water is down but still a lot of wet pockets outside the  marsh.  I could 
hear a lot of splashing and calling but could not see where  it all came 
from.  Ducks flying in all directions.
 
Don Morgan
Coventry



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