Waterfowl Survey NH

This weekend we went birding and participated in a waterfowl survey of southwestern NH, organized by Phil Brown of NH Audubon. Several birders went out and censused the various ponds and lakes in the area to find ducks and other waterfowl. We found one Canada Goose,

and lots of Hooded Mergansers,

who always seemd to be swimming away from us. This male has his crest raised like a fan.

The scenery was so beautiful, with clouds reflected in the water,

and the last of the fall leaves, the oaks, floating on the surface.

Finding the ducks and waterfowl required lots and lots of scanning across the water with our spotting scope. We used our Stokes Birding Series Sandpiper 15-45x65mm angled scope.

This is what I saw through the scope, tiny far away dots.

"Hey, Don I found some Hooded Mergansers."

Don was scanning with his binoculars. The orange hat is a precaution, so we would be spotted by any hunters that might be about.

Part of the fun was seeing the ducks, the other part of the fun was just getting out, on this crisp day and soaking up the beauty of the late fall landscape. That's what birding can do for you.

Our list of birds:
17 Black Ducks
1 Canada Goose
18 Hooded Mergansers
1 Double-crested Cormorant

We also saw a Great Blue Heron, a Belted Kingfisher and a large flock of Pine Siskins.