Slow Day at Bennington Lake

Bird activity was way down today, probably because of the warm, sunny weather.  Migrants have no reason to stop when the weather is so nice.  There were 14 long-billed dowitchers, 36 killdeer, and 1 Wilson's snipe in the mud.  Waterfowl included 1 wood duck, 6 American wigeon and 5 green-winged teal.  The most interesting sighting of the morning occurred as we were sitting on the concrete slabs at the north end of the canal.  Five raptors  (3 American kestrels, 2 northern harriers, and a sharp-shinned hawk) seemed to be having some sort of territorial dispute over our heads. White-crowned sparrow and junco numbers were up.  The only warbler species was yellow-rumped.  There were 2 American pipits in the mud.  Hopefully next week will find birds on the move again.   Ginger