Yes the walk started cold but the wind was only bad at Martin’s Point
Park. And it was sunny. Twelve people came on our last walk of the year
at Sabattus Pond. Leaving Martin’s Point for the small cover at the
south end on Route 9, we had two male Wood Ducks and a pair of American
Wigeon, plus 18 Hooded Mergansers. Then two Bald Eagles, one was a first
year, and two Belted Kingfishers. All of these within a few minutes and
close enough to just need binoculars. None were as close again. While
there were lots of ducks, most were in the middle of the lake, or on the
other side from which ever side we were on.
See you all next May.
Here, I hope, is the full list, 36 species. We had few song birds.
Canada Goose – 10 from Martin’s Point
Wood Duck – 2 males
American Wigeon – pair
Mallard – hundreds, maybe more!
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail – 16 hard to see even with scope
Green Winged Teal – 1
Greater Scaup – 40 near Martin’s Point
Black Scoter – 80 mostly flying high then on the water in a compact flock
Bufflehead – 20+
Common Goldeneye – 1
Hooded Merganser – 14 or 28 (in two places, same?)
Common Merganser – 1 by Gordon
Ruddy Duck – 500?
Mourning Dove
Killdeer – 4 on Long Beach
Ring-billed Gull – 8
Herring Gull – 4
Common Loon – 1
Double-crested Cormorant – 1
Turkey Vulture – 1
Bald Eagle – 3
Belted Kingfisher – 2
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow – 30+
Common Raven (H)
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Wren – 1 by Gordon when we left him!
American Robin – 15
European Starling
House Finch – 1 at feeder
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird – one large flock
—
Stan DeOrsey