On The Waterfront

Winter birding is all about waterfowl. To be sure I spend time tramping through the woods or riding the circuit looking for winter songbirds. But ducks are my passion and the Lake Champlain waterfront is where to find them. Shelburne bay is socked in with ice right now and the lake south of Thompson's Point is frozen, too. But the broad lake at Charlotte Town Beach, Shelburne Town Beach, Shelburne Point, and the Burlington waterfront beyond the breakwater is open for business.

So what's there? At Charlotte Town Beach Common Goldeneye by the hundreds-and perhaps a Barrow's or two. At Shelburne Town Beach-Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Common Mergansers. At Shelburne Point-Mallards, Black Ducks, and a lone Hooded Merganser. And in Burlington gulls-including a few Iceland Gulls-Mallards, American Black Ducks, a few hybrids of indeterminant lineage, and today-ta da-a Snowy Owl. No, the excitement is not all about ducks.

I'm anxiously awaiting the annual Long-tailed Duck at Charlotte or perhaps a Harlequin Duck at Shelburne Point. But no matter. Scanning the water for winter ducks, watching them swirl in the north wind, and enjoying the bizarre courtship antics of the goldeneyes while looking closely at each bird for a rarity or-well-an odd duck is entertainment enough for me.