Mystery bird at Allen Bros Marsh: Whendriving to Ludlow early yesterday morning I briefly 
stopped at the Allen Bros Marsh and saw a small bird rapidly swimming across the water 
fairly close to the right side of the road. I only got a very brief look at it: it was about the size 
of a crow, looked more chicken-like than duck-like, and appeared to be mottled brown with 
some darkening of the crown and forehead. It disappeard among the bushes growing along 
the side of the road; as I tried to approach it it flew off and settled in a distant part of the 
marsh. The wings looked dark reddish brown. I can't find anything looking like it in my 
Sibley's and am looking for help. Anybody have any ideas?

I have noticed that about 10% of the my supply of black sunflower seeds have minute worm 
holes. - I had just bought a new bag at Hannaford's. In the store I had looked closely at what 
was visible through the plastic bottom and saw a collection of grey dust specks, most likely 
worm excrement. I also looked at a bag with the Audubon logo; it looked even worse than 
what I was about to buy, with many more holes and greater accumulation of excrement. I 
guess it is the end of the season and we'll just have to wait for a fresh, hopefully mostly 
worm-free, supply in the fall. 

Hilke Breder
Brattleboro

www.onejackdaw.com