At about 4 pm, I took a quick look at the open water along the Peninsula shore.Only seeing Ruddy Ducks, i thought this was the best today. But farther walking, thru the phragmite sections, another glimpse and seeing open water in the lake middle, I spotted some white ducks.It wasn't until I crossed the Peninsula meadow when to my realization there were more than just one whitish duck.It turned out to be 13 COMMON MERGANSERS.A few were on the ice, 9 hens, 4 drake mergansers in a flock.
I watched this spectacle, a good moment for quiet Prospect of late, as the flock scattered and then rejoined with 6 hens congregated by Three Sisters Islands. Then about 415 , they all took off,a dozen gone, with one drake staying behind.
Adding more serendipity, in front of me were three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS that flushed towards the phragmites but came down from the tree along the Peninsula shore,at ladder 18 and a little left.
Good fortune after work and happy to see these birds.Perhaps the lake,as long it is open might hold good species in the coming days.
--kb
PS Klemens reported the lone drake Common Merge later, but 4 Rusty Blackbirds.
Klemens photo of remaining drake Common Merganser on the left
Rusty Blackbird ,photo by Klemens
