After several visits to Benson Landing on Lake Champlain to chase down a  
potential Great Black-backed Gull, to-day's visit finally put to  rest that 
quest!  The lake is partly frozen and the two  Great Black-backed Gulls were 
among a raft of active Common Merganser,  the former apparently taking 
advantage of the efforts of the  latter.
Also observed during the day, a flock of 28 Purple Finch along Stage  Road, 
same area as previously seen, also a Northern Flicker embedded in a  flock 
of American Robin and a Northern Shrike in West Haven. 
As noted by other observers American Robin were on the move in various  
aggregations. Also numerous Cedar Waxwing, one flock of 65 observed.
 
Benson  Landing, Rutland, US-VT
Dec 28, 2011 10:50 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol:  Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments:     Lake 60% frozen.   Temperature 37 degrees F.
10 species

Common Merganser   85
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  1
Great Black-backed  Gull  2     Seemed to be taking advantage of Common  
Merganser foraging.
Downy Woodpecker  2
American Crow   4
Common Raven  1
Eastern Bluebird  1
American Robin   10
Cedar Waxwing  2

This report was generated automatically by  eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/vt)


Cheers,
Roy Pilcher
The Gables at East Mountain, Rutland,  Vermont

Speaking the same language.