FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Waterfowl at Belmont Bay and Riverside

["Larry Cartwright" <prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave Nichols joined me today for a delightful birding trip to Belmont Bay at 
Mason Neck State Park and Riverside Park along the George Washington Parkway.  
Belmont Bay was 70% frozen over at 8:00 AM, but Riverside was open and hosted a 
greater diversity of waterfowl.  Both Hooded Mergansers and Common Mergansers 
were engaged in courtship displays.  In one case, one Hooded hen was receiving 
the attention of 12 drakes.  In another, two Common hens had caught the 
admiration of 7 drakes.  It was not a good day for the guys. The ladies had 
better things to do.   
The first column is Belmont Bay, the second Riverside:

Tundra Swan:       30/  4
Gadwall                 0/  150
American Wigeon   0/ 150   
American Black Duck   150/  50
Mallard                      0/   50
Canvasback             0/  4
Redhead                0/   2
Lesser Scaup      400/   570
Bufflehead           0/      20
Hooded Merganser   0/   40
Common Merganser   50/    400
Ruddy Duck               10/  0
American Coot           0/   250

Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx



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