Hello all
This morning I left the house early because the roofers have come to replace
the roof on my house . Just hope it will not rain .
Anyway while out checking out some of the local ponds & decided to go over to
the old Dupont ponds ( now Invista ) to check out the Black - crowned Night
Herons . No Herons to be found today but what I did find was 2 Hooded
Mergansers one adult female & one Imm. With only one breeding record for the
Mountains & Valleys I am thinking this could be our second breeding record &
the first for Augusta County . Tomorrrow I have to go back & try for some
photos ( usually when I carry a camera I do not see any thing good ) . The
Imm. has a very fresh & clean look about it where as the adult has a some what
worn look . also the crest is short & even looking where the adults crest is
longer & more ragged looking . Also I noted that under the chin it is a white
color where the adult does not have any white under the chin . Anyway not a bad
day of birding in & around Augusta County .
Allen Larner
Staunton
