MN Valley NWR, Wilkie Unit, Fisher Lake (telescope needed): 1-imm/female Long-tailed Duck associating with flock of about 200 Tundra Swans and 300 Canada geese and small numbers of other waterfowl, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM today December 5. One female Bufflehead and one female Ruddy Duck also present and sometimes keeping company with the Long-tailed Duck. + mallards, a few Gadwall, 1 N. Shoveler, a few Wood Ducks, two Am. Coot, Herring and a few Ring-billed gulls, etc. Long-tailed kept close to the ice edges and was diving actively (the open wings on diving were what caught my attention in the first place) and it spent more time under water than above it while I watched. It was still present when I left at 1 PM.
Folks who regularly bird this area--do the swans stage here every year? Quite a sight! Chris ===== Chris Mansfield Richfield, Hennepin Co. MN [email protected] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
