Highlights from today:

This morning two Mallards were diving in the cove off Foley Park near  
the Ledyard Bridge at a time when water levels were very high.  
Mallards are usually termed dabblers as opposed to divers, but this  
behavioral distinction among ducks does not seem to hold well at least  
for the Mallards in that area. However, the diving Mallards appear to  
remain submerged for only relatively short times when compared with  
other kinds of birds for which diving is a usual activity.

Also this morning, a Spotted Sandpiper was foraging for a time by  
walking around and pecking at the surface of what appeared to be a  
raft of water lily pads floating on the surface of that cove off Foley  
Park. Other birds of interest at Foley Park this morning included 2  
Belted Kingfishers, 2 Eastern Phoebes, 3 Gray Catbirds, and a Scarlet  
Tanager.

Later this morning, at least 18 Turkey Vultures were soaring at the  
same time at Pompy. This was a comparatively large number for that  
location and reminded me of the notable numbers seen on occasion in  
West Lebanon, NH . Also at Pompy was a Great Blue Heron, the only bird  
seen standing in the water, the level of which was quite high.

In Norwich village, a White-throated Sparrow, singing a rather poorly  
formed song, provided my first record since May for that species in  
the vicinity of the backyard here.

George

George Clark
Norwich, VT 

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