We had a pretty good morning at Mosquito.  The highlight was by far a
NORTHERN SHRIKE, which we spotted in a tree along the roadside, just south
of the game refuge headquarters.  After flying off after our first sighting,
we refound the bird a little while later, this time being harrassed by a
Northern mockingbird.  The mockingbird eventually chased the shrike away,
and we did not relocate it.  It was a great sighting.  We came today looking
for rough leggeds, which were nowhere to be seen, but the shrike more than
made up for it.

Today's birds:

NORTHERN SHRIKE - 1
Bald Eagle - no less than 12
Northern Harrier - 5
Red-tailed Hawk - 10
American Kestral - 2
Eastern Bluebird - 8
Pileated woodpecker - 1
Northern Shoveler - 4
Green-winged teal - 10
Gadwall - 25
Ring-necked duck - 45
Bufflehead - 40
American widgeon - 25
Ruddy duck - 15
American black duck - 10
Tundra swan - 20
Horned Grebe - 2
Wood duck - 1 apparantly injured bird that couldn't take flight from the
water, and had captured the attention of the nearby patrolling harriers.
One of which tried to catch the wood duck twice, but the duck submerged and
escaped.  I felt sorry for the duck, but it was a compelling interaction to
observe.  I imagine it will eventually succumb to predators.

John G Petruzzi

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