Yesterday evening, I checked out the Wilder Dam nocturnal waterfowl 
roost, which nearly ice-free conditions still allow to be above the 
dam.  I arrived at 4:30 pm, at which point only a handful of Common 
Mergansers were in the middle of the broad open water south of the 
Kilowatt South peninsula.  About 80 Mallards and 5 American Black Ducks 
were scattered along the NH shore, with many swimming south from points 
north of the peninsula.  During the next 25 minutes, a procession of 
both merganser species and additional Mallards arrived from both north 
and south, mixing across the entire area of open water.  By 4:45 it 
became difficult to discern individuals of the different species, but 
final counts were at least 125 Mallards, 60 Hooded and 45 Common 
mergansers.  They're much easier to count and identify when roosting in 
the concentrated flock below the dam!

Yesterday morning, I had at least one Common Redpoll calling in flight 
over my home in Norwich.

For anyone looking to ring in the new year with a leisurely bird walk, 
I'll be containing the tradition of a 90-minute outing in Norwich 
village on Thursday morning, as part of the annual Hanover-Norwich 
Christmas Bird Count.  We'll meet in front of Dan and Whit's at 9:00 am, 
then walk a loop up Beaver Meadow to Hopson Road and on to Hillside 
Cemetery, where we'll cut over to Pine Tree Road and return via Hopson, 
arriving back at Dan & Whit's.  I can't promise anything out of the 
ordinary, but a Red-bellied Woodpecker has been regular along Beaver 
Meadow Road, and this route has turned up a few surprises in recent 
years, including Wilson's Snipe, Belted Kingfisher, and Swamp Sparrow.

If you join us, please make sure to dress warmly, with a hat and gloves, 
and wear warm, fairly sturdy winter boots.   If you have binoculars, 
bring them.  If you don't, I'll bring an extra pair or two to share.  I 
hope to see some of you there.

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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