Today, a brief, mid day. trip along the VT Route 5 corridor provided  
an opportunity to see ice cover conditions along the Connecticut and  
Ompompanoosuc Rivers in Norwich, VT. In general, coves and side ponds  
were fully covered with ice. The only substantial body of open water  
was down the main channel of the Connecticut River, while Ice to a  
width of some yards bordered both sides of that river. The  
Ompompanoosuc River from Campbell Flats to the Connecticut River was  
also ice covered.

More than 350 waterbirds were present in or near the main channel of  
the Connecticut River, Canada Geese were at two locations: 1) more  
than 40 in the river across from the intersection of Goodrich4Corners  
Road and Route 5, 2) more than 90 standing on ice on the southwestern  
side of Ledyard Bridge. A flock of roughly 200 Mallards with at least  
10 American Black Ducks were in the vicinity of Wilson's Landing (a  
boat launch site on the Connecticut River in Hanover, NH); additional  
small numbers of Mallards were downstream opposite Goodrich4Corners  
Road and on the ice south of Ledyard Bridge.

Another avian highlight was a flock of 13 Wild Turkeys foraging in the  
harvested corn field at Campbell Flats.

George Clark
Norwich, VT

P.S. At Kilowatt Park South in Wilder. VT. the gate at the top of the  
ramp leading to the boat launch has now been closed for the winter.  
Most of the water surface from the boat launch south to Wilder Dam is  
now ice covered.

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