[EBB Sightings] Common Mergansers at Jewel Lake

Hello all-----Hope this sightings report goes thru--I have been having  
problems  
Late this morning/early afternoon , Jan. 17, on a sunny and cold day at  
Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Verne Nelson and I did the loop around the Lake.
 There was a male Common Merganser in crystal clear breeding plumage,  along 
with a harem  of 4 females with their fluffy, shaggy crests.   The females 
were doing an aquacade, diving in unison and then paddling in  single  file 
across the lake to get out of the water and fluff their  feathers.  About that time 
a White Egret came swooping down to harass a  Great Blue Heron, and a Belted 
Kingfisher came screeching and skimming across  the lake. Along the trail to 
the lake there were Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows,  Chickadees, Bushtits, Stellar 
Jays.
Along the Packrat Trail were a pair  of Downy Woodpeckers---one with a red 
spot on the nape-- doing some  acrobatics  Also, a Brown Creeper busily working 
its way down a tree trunk  to return up and work its way down again, and a 
Hermit Thrush busily scratching  up the leaves.  Also, encountered was a family 
of three deer on the  trail.  A very nice day.
Ed Tanovitz, Emeryville
 
 
 
 
 
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Start  the year off right. Easy 
On Jan. 17:



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