March 28

This morning we watched a mature bald eagle attacking a pair
of mallards on the lake. The eagle cartwheeled through the
sky low above the water, repeatedly diving on the ducks.
Each time, the mallards dove in a panic (but quickly popping
up like corks!). The eagle splashed down on the water four
times with talons extended, but failed to score a duck.
Each time it labored to lift off the water but quickly
attacked again. Finally the mallards escaped by air and the
eagle flew off to sulk on a lakeside alder.

March 27

Awake to big, fat snowflakes frozen to the deck. Scores of
swallows skittering just above the lake surface this
morning.

Two pair of hooded mergansers are squabbling over one of our
"wood duck" nest boxes. There has been a lot of sparring
between the pairs from 6am to 7:45 am. Only once did a
female enter the box, and she left after two minutes.

A red-breasted sapsucker is rhythmically tapping on a metal
cap atop a telephone pole.

March 25

Got up last night at 2am, flipped on outside lights and
looked out front window. Saw a startled flying squirrel
vamoosing from the feeder at lightning speed.

A pair of chickarees racing and chasing up and down a
Douglas fir.

At 6:30am we watched a male hooded merganser on the water
below the nest box. It was soon joined by a second
male--and both had their crests fully displayed. At 6:45am
one female flew out of the nest box and joined one of the
males below. Then the pair made a threatening "heads down
and extended" charge toward the second male, who retreated.
An hour later, a second hoodie female joined the second
male.

March 24

At 6am a female hooded merganser emerged from the nest box
and joined a male floating on the lake. Both floated there
for an hour or so; then a second pair swam up. The pairs
eyed each other warily, but no aggression occurred.

March 23

At 7am we saw a hooded merganser pair below the nest box.
The female soon flew into the box, where she remained for
about 15 minutes, then flew down to rejoin the male. Then a
bright male wood duck wandered up, swimming close to the
shore. The two mergansers lowered their heads and
charged--and the woodie retreated.