ML645186356

Observation details

Feeding in north pool of Capital Lake. Grouped together fairly tightly over a span of about 50 yards, with wigeon, shovelers, ring-necks, bufflehead. I counted 41 specimens (males and females in roughly equal number) panning from right to left with binoculars, and estimated an additional 20 in another group slightly north in the same way. It would have been impossible to count by 5s or 10s, given the diversity of species mixed together. My estimate of 60 birds is conservative, since at any given time 1/4 to 1/3 would be under water. A perfect count would be impossible for actively feeding/diving ducks. I've added additional pictures, which I believe to be non-redundant, taken with a short zoom, for a general idea of density within the multi-species groupings. See also my observation and photographs of same on previous day (11/11) when I estimated 45 individuals and subsequent day (11/13) when I estimated 60 again.