I visited Deer Creek State Park from 3:00 to 5:00 pm today.  Off of Route
207 at Park Road 9 that goes down to an inlet east of the marina turn-off,
there were 100 TUNDRA SWANS, Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gulls, Mallards,
Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, American Black Ducks, Northern
Shovelers, Killdeer and one Dunlin.  I stopped at the Pancoastburg mudflats
to look for the Black-legged Kittiwake.  There were hunters in the area and
no Kittiwake.

On the beach, there were 300 Ring-billed Gulls, off shore there were
hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls and Mallards, Ruddy Ducks, Scaup, two female
mergansers (to far to ID,) Buffleheads, two Horned Grebes.  On my way back
to the car, I noticed a bird in the top of one of the small trees growing
in the green strips between parking lands.  I scoped out a MERLIN and
watched it flush and chase some small birds.  I couldn't see the result as
they flew behind the treeline.  After driving to some of the beach picnic
areas, I returned to the beach lot and there were TWO Merlins perched in
adjacent trees.  A Cooper's Hawk flew by and one Merlin took exception and
chased it.  They had a bit of a dog fight in the air.  Cool!  Made my day!

Melanie Shuter
Circleville

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