° 1911 J Phillips, Migration of Anatidce in Massachusetts. 191 



in September. If a September flight occurs, it is sure to arrive any 

 time after September 18 with the first cool frosty night, especially 

 if preceded by a northwest wind. 



This September flight we have always found preceded and ac- 

 companied by a marked migration of Osprey (Pandion haliaetus 

 carolinensis) . These early birds are tame and easily decoyed. 

 Mr. Brewster in 'The Auk' for July, 1909, noted that my records 

 showed typical red-legged individuals occurring early only three 

 times: September 29, 1904, October 3, 1907, and October 9, 1906. 

 After October 20 they are common. 



Xone of the regular local Black Ducks have ever used Wenham 

 Lake, though undoubtedly if there was no boating, birds from 

 Essex and Ipswich would use this sheet of water for a drinking and 

 resting spot. Occasionally late in the fall and sometimes on heavy 

 northeast storms, accompanied by high tides, a flock or two of 

 "bay ducks" will come over from the salt water. These local 

 ducks are extremely wary, and if shot, smell strongly of their 

 salt-marsh foods. 



The largest flock of Black Ducks which has visited the lake in 

 the last ten years is 25. Flocks of over ten or twelve are rare. 

 They arrive usually from a northeast or southeast direction, and 

 alight far from shore in broad water. 



Black Ducks represent over 33 per cent of the entire results 

 for the ten year period. This is the duck par excellence of a thickly 

 settled and shot-out country, for if given any chance at all, it will 

 hold its own. The introduction of motor boats and night herring 

 torching on the numerous creeks of the Ipswich marshes has sadly 

 cut down the winter residents in Essex County. The main local 

 breeding ground is the valley of the Ipswich River and its tributary 

 brooks, where the building of cottages and the increase in canoes 

 ever tends towards forcing the birds into a more restricted area. 

 Careful spring protection, however, holds out hope that they may 

 hold their own. In early August, 1908, while on a house-boat in 

 Plum Isle River I had the opportunity to see 150 Black Ducks 

 coming each evening to an artificial fresh water pond of some 75 

 acres in extent. This, however, was an unusual sight, even for 

 this, a favorable spot. 



Gadwall (Chavlelas-mvs sfrepervs). This duck, exceedingly 



