Went down to Huntley Meadows today to drop a cable off for FMN use and spent an hour out on a very cold boardwalk. Very few people. Began with a flock of Song Sparrows foraging around at the beginning of the boardwalk, walking around on the ice. Further out towards the center of the marsh the usual flock of Ring-billed Gulls, a few Pintails (my favorite duck), a pair or two of Mallards, and lots of crows foraging around on the exposed mudflats. From the observation platform watched a Red-shouldered Hawk picking at a dead something (duck or goose) in the ice, surrounded by several crows. The crows were being fairly wary of the hawk, which finally tore off a good sized piece of whatever it was and flew off towards the treeline with it. Also in attendance in a tree near the beaver dam were another Red-shouldered and not too far away in the same tree a Red-tailed Hawk. As I was watching all of this going on every duck in the marsh suddenly took off in panicked flight- looking upwards the reason for that sailed by on a six-foot wingspread- an immature Bald Eagle. After spending a bit more time on the boardwalk I decided that I was cold enough for the day and headed back to the car.
As an additional bonus, got home and there was a Hairy Woodpecker at the feeder. These are a bit bigger and shyer than the Downies and not as easy to get a shot of. This was the second day in a row there's been one in the backyard.
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