Walking into work: Lots of hoodies — and some dunlin

Not a bad day walking into work today along the Norwalk River. If you’re looking for hooded mergansers, the Norwalk River by the I-95 bridge is as reliable a spot as there is. Of course, hoodies may be found in lots of places this time of year, but I’ve seen them walking into work each day for the past several days. There were about three dozen this morning. Such a beautiful duck.

Today’s walk also yielded a few dunlin on the banks of the river. My group missed this shorebird during the Christmas Bird Count, so it was nice to see them this winter.

The peregrines were not there today, but a few mockingbirds and house finches were hanging around.

Thanks for your support of Bird Calls. Be sure to tune in this Sunday (Jan. 29) when we talk to Kim Kaufman, director of Black Swamp Bird Observatory and wife of well-known birder Ken Kaufman.