BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 



125 



October ist to October 31st; November ist to November 20th. These dates 

 vary of course according to the season. 



The first flight consists mostly of young and often imperfectly feathered 

 birds and is sometimes the largest, sometimes the smallest of the three flights. 

 Thus, in 1900, only a very few birds were seen up to October 8th, while in 

 1903 and 1904, the first flight was more marked than the second. The first of 

 the Ducks are hastened along by an early frost or cool northwest weather and 

 their approach can be predicted almost to a certainty by a flight of Ospreys 

 which precedes and accompanies them. The Ospreys begin to come by in 

 some numbers two or three days before the Ducks arrive, and their flight seems 

 to be at its height during the first day or two of the duck flight. Black Ducks 

 on this flight are very often accompanied by Pintail and Blue-winged Teal. My 

 recorded dates for this flight are as follows : September 27th to October 2d, 

 1900; September 22d to 30th, 1901 ; September 25th to 29th, 1902 ; Septem- 

 ber 24th to October ist, 1903 ; September 14th to 28th, 1904. 



The first and second flights sometimes merge into one another but are 

 commonly separated by an interval of some days to a week or more, during 

 which time few birds are obseri'ed. The second flight is scattered over a longer 

 period and is accompanied by various other varieties of Ducks. Widgeon and 

 Mallard are often seen with Black Duck at this time and sometimes Pintail. 

 The Red-legged subspecies is common during this flight but rare among the 

 early Ducks. The second flight is much more pronounced during certain 

 weather. Thus on the end of a stormy northwest wind or during brisk south- 

 west weather, more birds are noted than at other times. At night, there are 

 apparently many bunches which alight in the pond for a very short period of 

 rest, and which leave of their own accord. These night flights are seen almost 

 entirely during southwest winds and probably occur as often on dark as on 

 moonlight nights. The dates for this flight are as follows : October 8th to 

 20th, 1900; October 4th to October 31st, 1901 ; October 7th to 26th, 1902 ; 

 October 2d to October 27th, 1903 ; October 2d to October 20th, 1904. 



The last flight is a more scattering and irregular affair and consists mostly 

 of the Red-legged variety. Some of these birds probably winter not far away. 

 The Red-legs average heavier and are a much wilder bird. They take to the 

 larger ponds only and nearly always approach decoys with caution. They can 

 sometimes be distinguished on the water by their thicker and shorter necks and 

 more compact bodies. I have twice seen A. 0. nibripes dive at the flash of a 

 gun after the manner of some of the diving Ducks and come out of water flying. 

 The Red-legs are always beautifully feathered and usually plump, and are 

 highly prized by the pond gunners. Late in November, these birds sometimes 

 come to the ponds from the neighboring marshes of Essex and Ipswich and are 



