Coots

Right before Christmas we were on our way to the grocery store in Rockland and drove past Chickawaukie Pond. Being close to the coast it is one of the last ponds in the area to get a winter coat of ice. This morning it was partly skimmed with ice with several open holes along route 17. The other unusual thing about Chickie is that for some reason a flock of American coots gathers there in the late fall each year. Coots are not unusual in most of the country but that is the only place I have ever seen them in our area.

One of the holes in the skim ice had been kept open by the coots as they swam and churned the water just enough to keep it from freezing. The hole was small maybe only thirty feet or so in diameter.  As we went by I thought that they better get a move on to the south or they might just freeze in the ice. In fact I was pretty sure that coots needed more open water than they had to take to the air. On our return trip I saw that they had more to worry about than just freezing in.

Three eagles had discovered that the coots were trapped in a small area and were taking full advantage of the situation. The coots could dive but because of the ice were forced to return to the surface in the same small hole. Making them pretty easy targets, coots in a barrel so to speak, for the eagles. In fact one eagle had already caught his meal and was standing on the ice eating, the second was diving at the flock of coots and after a few tries was successful as well. We did not stay long enough to see the third eagle capture a meal but I am certain he was successful.

Eagles have become more common over the years and I see them even more frequently during the winter months when they come to the coast seeking open water to fish in. I see them on many trips over the course of the year and always enjoy it.