Another outstanding weather afternoon and lots of the waterfowl entertaining
us, still in big numbers. Today's bird of note was a very close to shore male
Greater Scaup with a very nice green round head. Nearby there were several
female Scaup, and it seemed to me based on the markings, head shape etc, that
two were Lesser and one was a Greater. There are still prodigious numbers of
Ruddy Ducks, American Coots, Mallards, Canada Geese, Cormorants, Northern
Shovelers (and now many males in bright green headdress) and Pied-billed
Grebes. Numerous Great Blues and Great Egrets are taking advantage of the
tides to catch fish all over the bay. Cormorants are catching fish so big it
takes them several minutes to align the fish in their bills and then pop 'em
down, with the neck swelling as the fish is swallowed.
In smaller numbers (like ones or half a dozen) were Green-winged Teal, Belted
Kingfisher, Gadwall, and Black Duck. An adult Bald Eagle was cruising around
like he owned the place, and landed in the large dead tree with a previous
Eagle nest near the golf course. The eagle stayed there quite awhile, making
me wonder if the territory is under scrutiny for a nesting attempt.
Gull numbers are still high with plenty of Ring-bills and Laughing Gulls. It
also seems to me that the big Gull numbers are up, with about 8 Herring Gulls
loafing on the mudflats, and several Great Black-backed Gulls in the deeper
water areas.
Bob in Arlington
