Location: Jones Mill Pond Observation date: 3/17/10 Number of species: 4 Mallard 6 Hooded Merganser 4 Common Merganser 6 Belted Kingfisher 1 Location: Kellogg Bay Observation date: 3/17/10 Notes: Ice nearly all gone! Diving ducks appear to be dispersing. All but 4 of the eagles were in the trees. Number of species: 21 American Black Duck 14 Mallard 8 Common Goldeneye 4 Common Merganser 16 Bald Eagle 13 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull (American) X Great Black-backed Gull 12 Mourning Dove 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 4 Common Raven 2 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 American Robin 9 Northern Cardinal 2 Red-winged Blackbird 5 House Finch 2 Location: Basin Harbor Observation date: 3/17/10 Notes: Canada Geese in four skeins flying north. Ice all gone. Number of species: 11 Canada Goose 400 Bufflehead 3 Common Merganser 16 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull (American) X Great Black-backed Gull X Blue Jay 1 Tufted Titmouse 1 Carolina Wren 1 American Robin 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Location: Basin Harbor Observation date: 3/17/10 Notes: Canada Geese in four skeins flying north. Ice all gone. Number of species: 11 Canada Goose 400 Bufflehead 3 Common Merganser 16 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull (American) X Great Black-backed Gull X Blue Jay 1 Tufted Titmouse 1 Carolina Wren 1 American Robin 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Location: Button Bay State Park Observation date: 3/17/10 Notes: Ruddy Shelduck was observed from usual Button Bay vantage point [and poorly digiscoped] among some 36 Canada Geese swimming in a bay just east and south of the nearer small island off the Button Bay point. The bay is edged with cattails. As this observer moved for a better view the Ruddy Shelduck and accompanying Canada Geese swam south into the bay. A "mystery goose" and a Canada Goose landed together and swam together for as long as this observer was watching. The goose was from 10% to 15% larger than the Canada Goose. The head, neck and breast were white, the bill yellow, the back a dirty gray. There was a vertical gray streak down the neck. The rear end of the "mystery goose" rode higher in the water than that of the Canada Goose. [This observer goofed in attempting to digiscope as the camera setting was on video!] However, there is an image that can be seen, will check further! Number of species: 10 Canada Goose 350 Ruddy Shelduck 1 Gadwall 4 American Black Duck 6 Mallard 50 Common Merganser 6 American Robin 3 Song Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 3 Location: Champlain Bridge Observation date: 3/17/10 Notes: Ice shelf almost gone, diving ducks appear to be dispersing. Canvasback still there diving along with other diving ducks! Number of species: 5 Canada Goose X Canvasback 1 Ring-necked Duck 22 Greater Scaup X Lesser Scaup X Location: Market Road, Bridport Observation date: 3/17/10 Notes: Checking area where Red-headed Woodpecker nested several years back! Number of species: 9 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 3 American Robin 1 Red-winged Blackbird 150 Common Grackle X Location: East Creek, Orwell Observation date: 3/17/10 Notes: Checking area where Garganey was seen many years ago! Number of species: 7 Canada Goose 53 American Black Duck 4 Mallard 15 Hooded Merganser 3 American Crow 3 Eastern Bluebird 1 Red-winged Blackbird 23 Cheers, Roy Pilcher The Gables at East Mountain, Rutland, Vermont Speaking the same language.