January 23, 2025: Day 4 of the freeze - Warmer, but still below freezing.

Fourth day of the big freeze: temperatures were warmer today, but never rose close to the freezing point. The channel in front of Muscota had a considerable amount of floating ice most of the day. The cold temperatures continue to drive a variety of waterfowl into Inwood Hill Park. There were at least four Hooded Mergansers present, perhaps more. The most I saw at one time were three males and a female, but since I saw lone males at other times of the day, these could possibly have been additional individuals.

Hooded Merganser - January 23, 2025    ©️ Joseph DiCostanzo

It turned into a two merganser day when a female Common Merganser flew west just ahead of one of the commercial cruise boats which I suspect flushed it off the water east of my view. This may have been the same individual I saw in the channel off Muscota a few days ago on January 20th.

Also present today were seven Buffleheads, up from the five I saw yesterday. When I first saw them I assumed they were the same five males I saw yesterday. The second time I saw the group they were accompanied by a female Bufflehead and then a sixth male.

Rounding out the waterfowl for the day were the usual Canada Geese and Mallards who are here every day.

Yesterday, Allen and Karina Greene sent me a photo of a Horned Grebe they found near the Henry Hudson Bridge, yet another uncommon waterbird presumably brought to the park by the freeze.