Through the mid day hours today (Dec. 22), Ed Hack and I looked for  
birds along the Connecticut River, starting at the Ledyard Bridge in  
Norwich, VT, and then going north along VT Route 5 as far as Kendall  
Station Road in Norwich, and then going south to the Wilder section of  
Hartford, where we visited Kilowatt Park, both South and North, and  
also looked downstream over the river below Wilder Dam.

Ducks were remarkably plentiful. Mallards were in numerous locations  
with the largest flock being an estimated 170 birds flying and  
circling near the Nordic Skater business on Route 5 in Norwich. Our  
high count of American Black Ducks was 4 flying among that large  
Mallard flock. A Gadwall was well seen among Mallards on the south  
side of Kendall Station Road just to the east of Route 5. The sole  
Ring-necked Duck was observed from near the boat launch at Kilowatt  
South. A Lesser Scaup was seen on the Connecticut River with a flock  
of Mallards on the water near Nordic Skater before we saw the largest  
flock of Mallards in flight. Three female Common Goldeneyes and 5  
female Buffleheads were at Kilowatt South. Hooded Mergansers were  
widely spread along the river, and our total was 49. Common Mergansers  
totaled 21, with the only males being 2 seen from Kilowatt North.  
Despite having seen the 9 species of ducks today, we found no Canada  
Geese.

Highlights among other kinds of birds included an adult Bald Eagle  
perched in a pine in VT south of Wilder Dam, a male Peregrine Falcon  
watched at length while flying and circling at Kilowatt South, a  
Belted Kingfisher along Route 5 just to the north of Butternut Lane in  
Norwich, and a flock of about 30 calling redpolls flying over Kilowatt  
South,

George Clark
Norwich, VT