On Friday evening, I watched the waterfowl roosting congregation 
assemble below Wilder Dam.  When I arrived at 5:10 pm, there were 
already 30 Common Mergansers present in a tight flock, which gradually 
gained about 20 birds over the next 10 minutes.  The first Hoodeds (a 
pair) arrived at 5:20, after which the pace of new arrivals picked up.  
By the time I left at 5:35, at which point it was too dark to count 
accurately or identify new birds, there were at least 80 Commons and 50 
Hoodeds, with a few still piling in.  I didn't detect any other species.

This is a great spectacle to witness, and I'll be glad to organize an 
evening watch or two later this month.

Chris

-- 
Chris Rimmer
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
P.O. Box 420
Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-1431 ext. 1
www.vtecostudies.org

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