When I first saw the BONAPARTE'S GULL it was flying slowly north low and just east of the red lighthouse breakwater, covering some of the same Fall Creek outflow that the Tree Swallows had been foraging over yesterday (I saw none today). I had to leave for a fare but when I returned later I found it/one on the water further east of the red lighthouse (closer to my vantage at Stewart Park) breakwater, and again swimming north. I believe this to be the first Bonaparte's Gull reported in the Cayuga Lake Basin this year. When I checked eBird this evening I found that Chris Wood, Jessie Barry and Jeff Gerbracht had seen it, but I assume that since they did not report it to the listserv that they saw it as a result of my report. If anyone besides me saw it before 3pm I'll be happy to cede credit.
(Speaking of earlier first records, Shawn Billerman told me that Nate Senner had found an earlier EASTERN PHOEBE. Nate put it in eBird as "Ithaca" on March 17th, but Shawn told me it was Sapsucker Woods, although Shawn didn't know what town.) Today there was also a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT on the red lighthouse breakwater along with the usual 3 species of gulls (at least). This is the first cormorant I've seen since my initial report March 17th. On the water still closer to Stewart Park was a flock of 10 LESSER SCAUP. In the lagoon were a pair of COMMON MERGANSERS, a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS, and a trio (2M,1F) of WOOD DUCKS which fled to Fall Creek. I neglected to mention yesterday at Stewart Park an immature BALD EAGLE flew west along the shore at treetop level carrying a fish and accompanied by several crows. They all landed on a tree along the lakeshore by the swan pond. I wish I'd seen how the eagle acquired the fish. I also missed the raptor's departure because I went back to scanning swallows. There was a flock of 70 RING-NECKED DUCKS at Stewart Park yesterday, and about the same number this morning. Somebody recently mentioned a quiet warbling song by DARK-EYED JUNCO, the first I recall hearing of it, but this past weekend while sitting and working in my garden I heard this song from a nearby male Junco as it foraged in a nearby weedy area close to a great spot for it to nest. The song reminded me (to my rusty ears) of Vesper Sparrow, in having 2 intro notes. I assume it's the same Junco which I've been hearing before and since giving a typical trill around my yard. --Dave Nutter On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at 12:07PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Bonaparte's gull @ stewart park 1 winter plumage 3pm 24 Mar -dave nutter > >-- > >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 >3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > >-- > > -- 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 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
