Lots of waterfowl around Occoquan Bay NWR this morning. A red-necked grebe was
off Deephole Point amongst a large flock of lesser scaup. There were also 5
horned grebes in the area. Another red-necked grebe was off the Belmont
Marina. Nothing else unusual, just large numbers of ducks, including tundra
swan, lesser scaup, greater scaup, canvasback, ring-necked duck, bufflehead,
ruddy duck, wood duck, mallard, black duck, American wigeon, red-breasted
merganser, common merganser and hooded merganser. Because of the eagle nest on
Charlie Road one cannot walk beyond the culvert on the wildlife drive, and
Charlie Rd. is off limits. The only way one can reach the area around Delta
Road and along the golf course is to walk from Easy Rd. all the way along
Deephole Pt. Rd. and back.
When I went out to get my paper this morning at 6:05 (16 degrees out), 2
woodcock were displaying from behind my neighbors house. Since I went out in
my bare feet I did not stop and enjoy the show.
Marc Ribaudo
Woodbridge
