Tom,

Living on the beach all year round south shore LI, I used to see rafts of ducks on the bays; literally thousands at a time. Those were the days. Mid 90's I built a 14' blind on a skiff and would launch in Flanders near Riverhead, NY. One trip, I had a hard time getting out through the ice to my spot just 500 yds away but almost didn't make it back when the tide and wind got the ice flow moving. Tough trip back. The local Bay Constable helped me get my rig on the trailer. He was watching and I was happy to see him.