The highlight this morning was the significant movement of Canada geese. I saw
at least 10 high-flying flocks heading north over the course of 2 hours,
ranging in size from 50 to 400 birds. The waterfowl flocks at Powell’s Creek
have been much reduced. Remaining are a few lesser scaup, a still-sizable
flock of ruddies, a single canvasback, a small flock of common mergansers, and
2 wood ducks. Four tree swallows over the visitor’s center were another sign
of the changing season. At Metz Wetlands I saw 3 purple finches and a pine
siskin, 2 rusty blackbirds, osprey, pintail, and an eastern phoebe. Several
nest boxes have been claimed by bluebirds.
Marc Ribaudo
Woodbridge
