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. **************************************************************** 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 ****************************************************************