[obol] more hooded merg observations

[Ann Chamberlain]

The hoodies arrived on schedule this morning - 7:30 AM sharp.

Yesterday I counted 35 dives in a row between 9 and 9:45, almost all of 
them successful.  That's a lot of dives!  I couldn't decide for sure 
what they were eating, even with the scope, but I think some of the prey 
were bullfrog tadpoles.  The ducks were foraging all around the edge of 
the pond where I know the tadpoles hang out.

This morning, the female caught a carp too big to eat.  She made two 
trys, then left it floating on the pond.  It wasn't anywhere near as big 
as the one the male fought with and won.  She normally catches only 
things she can swallow easily. 

Still hoping they will use our wood duck box.  Since the male is still 
in attendance, I know the female has not finished laying eggs, so there 
is hope they will actually nest here.  Lately they have been arriving 
about 7:30 AM and leaving around noon.

Ann outside Myrtle Creek