I made a stop at Fowler Road Irrigation Pond this afternoon while returning
from a work day around Tims Ford Reservoir. Most of the ducks were near the
middle to east end of the pond and poorly visible from Fowler Road. There is
one spot on the south side, just past the two houses, where the pond can be
seen over the levee, so headed there. When I reached the intersection with
Rush Road, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk soaring over the ag field. As I was
watching it, an adult Peregrine Falcon flew in, dove at the Red-tailed a few
times, then flew off to the south. The Red-tailed escaped to the northwest.
When I arrived at the vantage point past the houses, I began scoping the mass
of waterfowl. Lots of Mallards and Gadwall. In the mix were several Pintails,
Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks
and Ruddy Ducks. I also noticed a gray bird with a rusty head and gold cap in
the mix...a nice male Eurasian Wigeon. A Bonaparte's Gull was flying around
over the pond, as was a Northern Harrier. As I was returning to Fowler Road, I
noticed another raptor over the ag field to the south. This bird did not act
or look like a Red-tailed. The longer wing, longer tail look and constant
hovering suggested Rough-legged, so I immediately stopped for binocular/scope
views. Sure enough, the pale tail with dark sub-terminal band, dark belly and
distinct wrist patch confirmed by suspicions. I then noticed a lot of
blackbirds in the trees west of the pond, and, since a Yellow-headed was in the
area earlier this winter, I decided to check them out. I scoped them for a
while, finding the Red-tailed perched in their midst, but could not find a
Yellow-headed. I did find one female Rusty in the bunch, but otherwise, just
Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. Soon, they all flew and I noticed another
raptor flying with them. This one turned out to be a female Merlin. After
making a few passes through the blackbirds, not really appearing to be hunting,
she headed off to the west. There was another larger mass of blackbirds west
of the area, but too distant to scope. Maybe the Yellow-headed was in that
mix. Guess I'll have to "settle" for an Eurasian Wigeon, a Rough-legged Hawk
and three species of falcons (several Kestrels in the area). Damien
SimbeckKillen, AL
