There seems to be a substantial reduction in birds in my usual haunts.
About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that the feeders in my yard and my mother's yard seemed to have little traffic and were not decreasing in level anywhere close to the usual rate. About that time, others began posting to MDOsprey that they were also seeing fewer birds, especially finches.
Then, my family did our traditional Black Friday birding swing through Blackwater WR and Hoopers Islands, and noticed that many of the usual larger species were not there, either. We usually see plenty of diving ducks and loons, but only found one small group of Buffleheads and one Common Loon. I guess the ducks are just getting here later each year, probably a global warming thing. But, we also saw a lot fewer hawks. We saw NO Harriers this trip, although we have always seen many in the past. There were plenty of Bald Eagles, as usual.
The highlight of our swing was one juvenile Greater White-fronted Goose with some Canadas in a small piece of open water east of Maple Dam Road a little north of the bridge. Missed the lone White Pelican reported at Blackwater Refuge wildlife drive, although we had found the group of them that was there last year.
Our "best" birds of the Thanksgiving holiday were the Hooded Mergansers that dropped into the cove at my mother's house on Saturday and Sunday. There appeared to be 3 groups: one with 3 males and 4 females on Saturday morning, then another with 2 males and 6 females on Sunday morning and finally one with one male and 4 females on Sunday night (possibly the same group as on Sunday Morning, but maybe not). I looked but found no Mergansers in the cove by the time I left on Monday. I am guessing that the Hooded Mergansers are now moving through?
As for Buffleheads, there were maybe 50 in the Bay off the mouth of the Magothy before I left for Thanksgiving, but none when I returned, so they don't seem to be here in the numbers that I am used to from previous years. Hopefully there are more to come?
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