[nysbirds-l] Merganser Bonanza
Goldsmith's Inlet inner pond 3-12-12 About 8:45 this morning at very low tide Linda & I observed RB Merganser behavior we cannot recall seeing before. There was a school of fish trapped in the inlet pond and a group of RB Mergansers had them rounded up along the shoreline. About 15 birds, all working as a group, had a great breakfast of small fish. The main hunting group of about 10 birds kept diving and attacking the fish. Fish were jumping all over trying to escape. Meanwhile about 5 Mergansers would half fly, half skid along the water and land with their breasts first, causing big waves around the perimeter of the fish school. In this way they kept the fish penned in close to the shore. The Mergansers would take turns being the ones on the perimeter while others ate in the middle. Eventually after about 15 minutes the fish did get out into the middle of the inlet pond and the Mergansers stopped their organized tactics and went back to the usual individual diving. It was pretty cool while it lasted. Even Mollie, our dog was watching. Also seen was a mixed flock of C Wren, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow & DE Junco all foraging on the lawn of an unused summer home. The Mockingbirds were really quite busy chasing each other around as well. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Merganser Bonanza
Goldsmith's Inlet inner pond 3-12-12 About 8:45 this morning at very low tide Linda I observed RB Merganser behavior we cannot recall seeing before. There was a school of fish trapped in the inlet pond and a group of RB Mergansers had them rounded up along the shoreline. About 15 birds, all working as a group, had a great breakfast of small fish. The main hunting group of about 10 birds kept diving and attacking the fish. Fish were jumping all over trying to escape. Meanwhile about 5 Mergansers would half fly, half skid along the water and land with their breasts first, causing big waves around the perimeter of the fish school. In this way they kept the fish penned in close to the shore. The Mergansers would take turns being the ones on the perimeter while others ate in the middle. Eventually after about 15 minutes the fish did get out into the middle of the inlet pond and the Mergansers stopped their organized tactics and went back to the usual individual diving. It was pretty cool while it lasted. Even Mollie, our dog was watching. Also seen was a mixed flock of C Wren, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow DE Junco all foraging on the lawn of an unused summer home. The Mockingbirds were really quite busy chasing each other around as well. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
