Main channels of the Connecticut and Ompompanoosuc Rivers are now largely free of ice, and the area of their confluence late this morning held a nice variety of waterfowl including 10 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 4 American Black Ducks, 2 Green-winged Teal, 6 Ring-necked Ducks, 3 male Common Goldeneyes, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, and 17 Common Mergansers. Today's assemblage of birds was a dramatic contrast with the few if any waterfowl found there during recent weeks when both rivers remained ice-covered. Adding to the spring birding there this morning were a singing male Red-winged Blackbird and four displaying Common Grackles.

Not far away, another Red-winged Blackbird was perched on the reeds at the Pompy Flats where presumably reclaiming or staking out a territory for nesting.

George Clark
Norwich, VT


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