Fresh Pond: The Real World by James H. Barton
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Fall Waterfowl Checklist for the Fresh Pond Reservation

Starting in 1984 I've recorded 38 species of waterfowl at Fresh Pond, including 13 species I've seen every year. If you come here regularly from October 15 through December 15 you will probably see all 13 of them, though some you will see just for a day or two and some in small numbers.

Several hundred Canvasback are normally present at the time of our annual International Migratory Waterfowl Day on the first Sunday in November. Single Redheads have been reliable in recent years.

Regularly Occuring Species of Waterfowl
Pied-billed Grebe Atlantic Canada Goose Mallard American Black Duck American Wigeon Ruddy Duck Canvasback	Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser American Coot

Fresh Pond is a deep-water pond that favors the diving ducks, especially Ruddy Duck and members of the genus Aythya. But the golf course at its western edge provides free lunch for grazers such as American Wigeon and small, shallow ponds near the reservoir occasionally attract members of other genera, including Green-winged Teal and Wood Duck.

In addition to the 13 species that occur every year, I've I've recorded 22 other species of waterfowl and two additional subspecies of Canada Goose.

Other Species of Waterfowl Recorded
Common Loon Red-necked Grebe Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Mute Swan Snow Goose Western Canada Goose Richardson's Canada Goose Gadwall Green-winged Teal Eurasian Wigeon Northern Pintail	Northern Shoveler Blue-winged Teal Common Pochard* Redhead Tufted Duck* Black Scoter White-winged Scoter Surf Scoter Oldsquaw Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser
Notes: Purple Gallinule has been recorded by JB et al. and Common Moorhen by MP, JB et al. * A feral origin cannot be confirmed or denied for the female or young male Common Pochard observed November 4, 1988. * A single juvenile female Tufted Duck was present December 4, 1984. At least four juvenile and two near-adult female Tufted Ducks were seen by multiple observers between November 17 and 30, 1995.

Information on detailed reports of
Waterfowl Census and Juvenile Tufted Ducks

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