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Tundra Swans, Canvasback



The 5 Tundra Swans that arrived at the West Lake Road pond in southern Wake
County are still present.  It looks as if they will make it on the Raleigh
CBC this year!  The group consists of 4 immature birds with black and pink
bills and dusky plumage, and one adult in bright white plumage with the
typical black bill and yellow tear drop.

Although the number of Canvasback dropped to only a handful last week, the
numbers have rebounded to over two dozen as of this afternoon.

West Lake pond is located on the road of the same name, just off 1010 Rd.
south of Cary.  Specific information and directions can be found on Will
Cook's triangle birders guide.  See
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/tbg/wake.html

A check of the local impoundments last weekend showed slightly fewer ducks
than during the first week of the month although the diversity remains
about the same.
Interestingly, the Northern Shovelers that normally winter at the NCSU
dairy farm pond have not been present since mid-November.  Green-wing Teal
also seem a bit scarce but this may because their normal stronghold on
Greenview Pond is not productive this season.  I'm wondering if the lower
portion of Greenview will ever regain the wintering populations of ducks it
had before the "improvements".  I have not seen a single duck on the lower
portion since the impoundment was reconfigured.  It may be that additional
time is required for the aquatic plant growth to return, but Yates Mill
pond began attracting waterfowl almost immediately while Greenview remains
empty.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Have a great Raleigh count tomorrow!
Steve Shultz
Cary, NC