[NatureNS] 22ND ANNUAL EAGLE WATCH report -- c. mergansers, redpolls, etc.

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From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:29:55 -0400
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Begin forwarded message:

> From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
> Date: January 27, 2013 12:28:56 AM AST
> Subject: 22ND ANNUAL EAGLE WATCH report -- c. mergansers, redpolls,  
> etc.
>
> JAN. 26, 2013 -- 22ND ANNUAL EAGLE WATCH at Sheffield Mills --  
> Relative to what weather we have had over the past week or more,  
> today was gorgeous, Sunny and wind-free in the morning, fairly warm  
> at -10 C., and perfect for the first day of this year's Eagle Watch  
> -- also perfect for our annual count of eagles and raptors in  
> eastern King's County (more on that to come later).  The afternoon  
> got warmer to -8 C. but also windy with a resulting wind-chill.
>
> This morning at home I checked my Niger/thistle black metal feeder  
> and found it empty, so I refilled it, hoping for some of my  
> neighbour's redpolls and siskins -- in the afternoon I did see 2  
> common redpolls with a couple of goldfinches.
>
> In mid-morning I drove east from Wolfville to the Eye Road eagle- 
> feeding site but saw only one bald eagle there, at the nest across  
> the hwy. from the chicken barn.  Then I continued east to Grand  
> Pre, then south to Wallbrook -- 2 drake common mergansers were in  
> the Gaspereau River just above the bridge.  I drove west parallel  
> to the river and spotted only a few perched bald eagles, no feeding  
> concentrations.
>
> Then I drove to Sheffield Mills, again only noting a few scattered  
> bald eagles.  At the Community Hall at 10:30 a.m. there were  
> relatively few parked cars and people inside the hall, perhaps  
> because many were at the viewing site at the north end of Middle  
> Dyke Road??  I was told that earlier in the morning there were  
> plenty of eagles there, but they were mostly just perched in the  
> trees around the feeding field.
>
> However, it was different by noon, when I snuck away from the Hall  
> (partly to hear Quirks & Quarks) and drove to the viewing site.  I  
> counted as many as 30 bald eagles on the ground at once, but there  
> was lots of action so that the numbers changed rapidly up and  
> down.  A few immatures flew across the field and landed briefly,  
> and about 20 ravens were also on the ground.  I also counted at  
> least 30 more perched eagles, for a minimum total of 60 but  
> probably considerably more in the general area, with many in the  
> air at once.  There was plenty of room for manoeuvering my car and  
> stopping briefly to look before driving on and getting out of  
> other's way.  Number of cars there were well below what I expected  
> to see.
>
> The eagles on the ground were relatively far from the photographers  
> along the road, and three photographers has advanced about 20  
> metres into the field -- I was concerned about that, and I hope  
> they didn't try to get any closer.
>
> Later, on my way home, I visited the viewing site again at about  
> 2:40 p.m.  I only saw 3 perched eagle, and now on the ground were  
> only 20 great black-backed gulls and, surprisingly, a single  
> herring gull -- we hardly ever see the latter at the feeding sites.
>
> Once again, go to www.eaglens.ca for details about the 22nd Annual  
> Eagle Watch at Sheffield Mills.
>
> Tomorrow's forecast is for up to -10 C. and partly Sunny, perhaps  
> another nice day for the drive in eastern King's County plus a  
> pancake-and-sausage breakfast plus viewing of displays and videos  
> plus shopping for eagle paraphernalia etc.??
>
> Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica">"James W. Wolford" &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;</fon=
t></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Date: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">January 27, 2013 12:28:56 AM =
AST</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>22ND ANNUAL EAGLE WATCH report -- c. =
mergansers, redpolls, etc.</b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div>  <div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>JAN. =
26, 2013 -- 22ND ANNUAL EAGLE WATCH at Sheffield Mills</b> -- Relative =
to what <b>weather </b>we have had over the past week or more, today was =
<b>gorgeous</b>, Sunny and wind-free in the morning, fairly warm at -10 =
C., and perfect for the first day of this year's Eagle Watch -- also =
perfect for our annual count of eagles and raptors in eastern King's =
County (more on that to come later).&nbsp; The afternoon got warmer to =
-8 C. but also windy with a resulting wind-chill.</font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">This =
morning at home I checked my Niger/thistle black metal feeder and found =
it empty, so I refilled it, hoping for some of my neighbour's redpolls =
and siskins -- in the afternoon I did see 2 <b>common redpolls</b> with =
a couple of goldfinches.</font></div><div style=3D"