Hi all, Today, Tim Lenz, Nancy Chen, Chris Dalton and I headed up toward Montezuma and other spots around the lake. Tim and I started birding up the east side of the lake before meeting up with Chris and Nancy at Montezuma, having 2 SURF SCOTERS at Myer's Point and one LINCOLN'S SPARROW along Drake Rd.
In the morning, we had a nice diversity of shorebirds at the MNWR Visitor Center pool, with at least 6 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, several small groups of Dunlin, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, a Semipalmated Plover, a juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher, and at least 18 Black-bellied Plovers. Along the Wildlife Drive, there were hundreds of Tree Swallows foraging over the Main Pool, as well as 7 Rusty Blackbirds that flew by. At the "new shorebird habitat" just before the bend we found a juvenile HUDSONIAN GODWIT preening and foraging alongside many Canada Geese. Also there was a single Black-bellied Plover and several Killdeer. At Benning Marsh, we had at least 3 CACKLING GEESE with the Canada Geese. At Towpath, Chris and Nancy had Tennessee Warbler, and 4 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. We all saw 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE preening and sleeping with the Canada Geese in Knox-Marscellus. We did not see any Ross' Geese in the morning, but later in the afternoon, we found 4 ROSS' GEESE (3 adults and 1 juvenile) from East Road as the Snow Geese were foraging on the grass/mud. Also at Knox-Marscellus were Dunlin, Lesser Yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpipers, and a Stilt Sandpiper. We stopped quickly at Marten's Tract where we were able to find a single NELSON'S SPARROW. There were also several White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows. Van Dyne Spoor had a large group of chickadees and some Myrtle Warblers. We decided to check the Visitor Center and Wildlife Drive again later in the afternoon. There were fewer shorebirds (although this time with 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers), and more Canada Geese. We could not refind the godwit later in the day. The Cackling Geese were still present at Benning. On the way back down the west side of the lake, Tim convinced us that it was a good idea to check Dean's Cove. Tim was, of course, right, and quickly picked out an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a PACIFIC LOON that was quite far from shore, slowly drifting northward with 6 Common Loons (providing for nice comparison). Although quite distant, the smaller size, the smaller, thinner bill (as compared with the Common Loons it was with), and the pale gray back of the head and neck all were clear on the Pacific Loon. Also present were 7 distant WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. All in all, a very successful day. Good birding, Shawn -- 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/ --
