FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Swift Creek

[Mike and Ann Brooks <mikeannbrooks@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The reservoir is mostly frozen over at this time (at least what I can
see of it).  There are 60 or so geese and about the same number of
mallards and other ducks standing/sitting around on the ice.  Probably
twice as many gulls.  Geese, it seems, treat ice like land and land on
it by dropping down straight at the last minute.  Mallards, on the other
hand, treat ice like water and swoop onto it.  Sometimes this works;
other times duck legs  splay out on either side and ducks, in a
three-point-landing mode, skid across the ice on their butts---sometimes
into other ducks. Not very graceful.

Herons, of which there are two hanging around, probably aren't too
smart.  They stand on the ice for hours--looking down.

A pair of red-shouldered hawks spent some time this afternoon observing
the action and a pair of adult bald eagles has spent some some each of
the last several mornings in the area.  I wonder if this pair is going
to nest again around here.

ANN

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