Date: 4/24/25 7:31 am From: Griggs, Jerry <GRIGGS...> Subject: Re: Breeding Hooded Merganser
Following up on yesterday's thread,
> On Apr 23, 2025, at 6:58 PM, Kevin Kubach <kmkubach...><mailto:<kmkubach...>> wrote:
>Thanks for sharing. In a similarly surprising observation, an astute birder saw a hen with eight young on 20 April in Kershaw Co., SC (essentially on the fall line between the Piedmont and coastal plain)!
In Columbia, Outlet Pointe Wastewater Plant is a pond beside the Saluda River by the I-20 crossing. This is also around the fall line. I have been seeing a female Hoodie with four (down to three?) young there, sometimes beside the far more numerous Wood Ducks (with young also). Associating with these birds is a male Mallard that has been around for months. A lone male Blue-winged Teal has been around as well. It seems like a commune for ducks?
Since I'm posting, it is pleasing to report that the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak of the season has arrived at the feeders, at our home near Mungo Park in the Irmo area. I take it to be a female. A bright male Blue Grosbeak is now coming, possibly the same bird that has often visited the past couple of years? And, a dazzling male Painted Bunting is now joining the female and immature that have been here for almost two weeks. Painted Buntings can be heard singing in the park, which is a good place to look for these birds (as well as butterflies).
