Hi all, I went to Myers earlier today and had quite a few birds. Here is my eBird report. Note that the comments are mostly for my own use and those about when birds were last reported are based on what people have reported to eBird. It is very easy for anyone to go in and see high counts, dates species were last seen etc (you can do this states, counties or hotspots like Myers and Stewart Park) in the View and Explore data tab of eBird. Comments on high counts help me and others using eBird to find more interesting sightings for seasonal reports etc. They are not to say that this is the highest count in all recorded history, just that thought the numbers were relatively high for this time of year.
Location: Myers Point Observation date: 12/18/09 (8:45 - 9:35am) Notes: Temperatures dipped down into the low single digits last night and it was only 6F when I arrived. Viewing conditions were VERY challenging due to thick steam coming off of lake. I was only able to see/count those birds that were close. Most of the stream was frozen and gulls and ducks were concentrating near the ice edge. High overcast. Thankfully calm. The most amazing thing was the large number of diving ducks moving south. Most of the large flock that came through at 9:20 were only about 125 meters above the water, but it seemed like they were going to keep moving south. One of the better days I have had here. Number of species: 24 Canada Goose 378 Exact count. Tundra Swan 4 Two adults and two juveniles. One juvenile was still quite brown with no sign of molt. The other had replaced about 1/3 of all scapulars. The bill on each was still mostly pink. Gadwall 9 Exact count. American Black Duck 7 Exact count. Mallard 283 Exact count. Canvasback 70 *High count. Estimate of birds in flight heading south with big flock of Redhead at 9:20am. Fairly close to actual number could be off by a couple. Last reported here on 8 February. Redhead 1600 *High count. Estimate of birds in flight moving south in several flocks of between 80 - 400 birds all within a couple minutes at 9:20. Fairly close to actual number could be off by 5%. Also saw maybe 10 birds on the water. Last reported here on 23 April. Ring-necked Duck 493 Exact count of flocks moving south and birds in water. Greater Scaup 12 Lesser Scaup 535 *High count. Fairly close count of birds in flight heading south. Hooded Merganser 88 ***High count. Exact count. Includes 12 birds in marina pool, all other seen flying south shortly after I arrived. Common Merganser 21 Includes two adult males. Ring-billed Gull 58 Herring Gull 101 Iceland Gull 1 One nice juvenile. Intermediate-dark. The first time I have seen this individual this year. Great Black-backed Gull 11 Belted Kingfisher 1 heard only Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 American Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 7 American Goldfinch 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
