Last week Lefferts Pond was ice bound but today it was 90% ice free, a situation of which a few waterfowl took advantage. Kent Pond and Chittenden Reservoir were also ice free this morning. A temperature inversion was apparent this morning. Driving from Rutland where the temperature reading was 50 F. it increased with elevation until at the top of Killington pass the temperature was 6 degrees higher, namely 56 degrees F.! Kent Pond, Rutland, US-VT Nov 29, 2011 8:40 AM - 9:05 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Temperature 48 degrees F. Pond is ice free but the water level has not been restored to pre-Tropical Storm Irene. 4 species American Black Duck 4 Hooded Merganser 4 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Blue Jay 4 Lefferts Pond, Rutland, US-VT Nov 29, 2011 9:35 AM - 9:50 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Temperatures 54 degrees F. Pond was previously frozen over but is now 90% ice free due to warming weather. Waterfowl have returned. 5 species Canada Goose 57 Mallard 13 Hooded Merganser 3 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 1 Chittenden Reservoir, Rutland, US-VT Nov 29, 2011 10:00 AM - 10:35 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Temperature 54 degrees F. Reservoir ice free. Mixed flock of American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin feeding on yellow birch fruited catkin seeds. 7 species Common Loon 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1 Pine Siskin 10 American Goldfinch 12 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.