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 **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************