I walked along the Potomac at Riverbend Park for about an hour this
afternoon. It sure was cold !! Initially I saw only Bufflehead, spread out
in small groups, all over the river. Upriver I found three Common
Mergansers, one male, three females. By about 3:45 or 4:00 o'clock the
Bufflehead began flying in and forming one large raft in front of the boat
launch, probably 150 to 200 birds. Quite striking in the afternoon sun.
About the same time, I saw a large group of ducks fly upriver from the area
around Conn Island and land across the river from the boat launch, on the
Maryland side. I checked them in my scope, and they were clearly Ring-necked
Ducks. I'd estimate 200 to 250 birds. These were the first R.inged-necks I
have seen this year at Riverbend .
I intend to check again on Friday afternoon to see what all this upcoming
rain and the cold front on Thanksgiving might bring in.
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Virginia
Sent from my iPad
