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Hi there, Jean Hartley and I went out to do a little birding late this morning despite the cold winds. We saw the American Coots, Ruddy Ducks, Canada Geese etc at Bissett Lake, as have already reported by others. We also visited several other traditional hot spots in the Cole Harbour/Woodlawn area. The Cole Harbour Heritage Farm marsh off Dorothea Drive was quiet, the Red-winged Blackbirds were gone and everything else must have sought shelter from the wind. However the little park behind the Expressway convenience store on Woodlawn off Day was quite lively, with the usual sparrows, chickadees, goldfinches, a single Cedar Waxwing etc. We looked for the traditional Northern Cardinals among the rose tangles at Patterson and Clifford without success. In contrast to last week, Robins were very scarce. At Sullivan's Pond, we saw two American Coots, a pair of Gadwall, and lots of American Wigeon, but what astonished us was seeing a male Surf Scoter among the Black Ducks and Mallards! It was frequently close to shore, closer than I have ever seen one before. It would have been a rare opportunity to photograph it. However, it was clearly out of place, and a lady named Gerry, who lives nearby and was studying the bird when we arrived, pointed out that it was holding one leg up as though it were injured. She had seen it very closely before we arrived and thought it was missing one foot. The bird never dove while we watched it, and did not feed. It swam rather slowly, and at times seemed to swim in circles, but not always. Since they eat shellfish, I doubt that there is anything for it at Sullivan's. If it indeed has a lame foot, would it be able to dive properly, or take off in flight? I am wondering if it has made a poor choice of place to shelter while injured, and is now marooned without suitable food. Perhaps the Eastern Shore Rehabilitation and Rescue Centre (Hope Swinamer) could help it? Patricia L. Chalmers Halifax
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