I drove down to see what might be on the Potomac south of Alexandria this
afternoon. The raft of 125 – plus Canvasback's that I saw and photographed
at Collingwood on New Year's Day have now moved 100 yards or so down the river,
but are still closely packed together as a raft.
Not much at Riverside, two decoys over by the hunters blind, and about 21
Common Mergansers far out in the channel.
At the Waynewood pullout I found 18 Ring-necked ducks, one Lessor Scaup,
six Bufflehead, and about 21Common Mergansers, again out in the channel. A
recheck it Collingwood yielded some more Ring-necked ducks, some more Lessor
Scaup, some Bufflehead, and another 26 Common Mergansers, once again out in the
channel.
I found very little at Bellhaven, just a few Ruddy ducks, but also the best
bird of the day for me: a beautiful male, Hooded Merganser swimming about 20
yards off the picnic area.
I continue to believe that this big cold snap were going to have is likely to
bring us significantly more ducks by the middle of next week; about Wednesday
or Thursday I think/hope.
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Virginia
Sent from my iPad
