Soon Looking for Manatees on Mystic Lakes. Harbor Seal 12.1.20

[phaw...@comcast.net]

We might be looking for Manatees on the Mystic River/Lakes next. This morning was typical November weather (a day late), with virtually nothing around. Two Double-crested Cormorants and 1 Herring Gull. A guy brought his kayak in and told John Blout he had seen what looked like a dog swimming in the middle of the lower lake. John suggested it might have been a big muskrat, which we see swimming across the lakes now and then. But then we saw the dog swimming head on towards the dam in the middle of the lake. A look through binos or the view finder showed a harbor seal! The first I've ever seen on the Mystic Lakes! I recollect several years ago a Manatee was found on a river or harbor in New England, far off course. You never know.... It appeared that the seal looked up and saw us standing on the platform, said "dam," and turned around and swam the other way. It might still be in the lower lake but we did not see it again. 

     With the heavy rains and the lakes already relatively high from the recent rains, they obviously opened a lock on the Amelia Earhart dam and a curious harbor seal swam into the current and up the river. I remember perhaps 30-40 years ago when a rare (then) Gray Seal was seen on the lower river above the dam. 

     It's been an interesting though slow several weeks. Two weeks ago Mark Troxel had a flock of mystery ducks land on the southern lower lake. His photos showed a small flock of Long-tailed Ducks, primarily males! A Common Loon has been swimming (and flying) around the lakes for over a week, and last week we had a flock of Cedar Waxwings feeding ravenously near the dam parking lot. They were challenged and chased by a flock of American Robins who think they own the territory. Cedar Waxwings are always beautiful to watch, but we were also looking for a possible errant Bohemian Waxwing. No luck, but we keep looking. Several weeks ago we had the world's plainest-looking Pine Siskin eating on an Evening Primrose plant in the parking lot. A week ago we had a flock of 60-80 siskin fly over the dam noisily.

     Jason Smith had two Wood Ducks several days ago, and we've had a Merlin sit nervously while assiduously looking for winter finches with us. When we spotted the Merlin flying head-on from the western shore, it looked large enough that both John Blout and I first thought Cooper's Hawk. (Cooper's wings in deep downstrokes can look very falcon-like.) Yesterday a gorgeous (and I think new) juvenile male Red-tailed Hawk flew across the dam and perched on the edge of the parking lot. When an adult Redtail flew from the western shore of the lower lake, the small kid high-tailed it north, away from the presumably territorial adult. 

     And then there are the Song Sparrows. Apparently the same territorial male Song Sparrows on either side of the dam are still there, and the east side sparrow has been singing beautifully in late November. I assume this is the same individual who has been serenading me since at least February of 2020. They are among the most special birds of the Mystic Lakes.

     

Best,

Paul    

 

  

Paul M. Roberts
Medford, MA 
phaw...@comcast.net