Hi all, I went to north side of the lake, specially in search of Snow Geese. I was not disappointed. Along the Drake Road, I found some tom Turkeys under usual feeders. Center Road was quiet except for couple of Horned Larks. But as I was passing the road, I encountered my first flock of Snow Geese passing over me heading somewhere along 34 B. By the time I got the camera out, the birds were gone. But I considered that as a good omen for things to come ahead next. After a short detour on 90, I took my favorite Dixon road from Rafferty. Nothing special but many robins along the road, a flock of about 100 grackles with a few Red-winged mixed in and a Kestrel. At the end of the road I headed down to the lake, which comes out at Aurora Fire Station. Along the lake north, I stopped at Factory Pond. As Bill noted it was devoid of any ducks, but sleeping Screechie. At the same spot there was a very entertaining Starling doing all kinds of mimicry including Meadow Lark. So I spent some time with him trying my camera.
Next, I stopped at Cayuga Village road just off of 90. Here I encountered huge flocks of Snow Geese flying overhead, which I found were heading to other side of the lake as the lake was mostly frozen around this area. There were many ducks but I did not spend time watching them as I was on an assignment, so shot some B rolls. I went to the water's edge at Cayuga park where I encountered Jay et al. Along Lake Road, I got a nice Common Goldeneye. Then headed to visitor Center for a short stop. Then I headed to Mucklands via East Road. From East Road, I could see huge flocks of Snow Geese in the muck. So I headed directly there. From both sides of the road there were thousands of Snow Geese and were just abut 300 mt from the road. I parked at the Potato building and hid behind the building and watched and took shots (not with guns but with a camera). I spent an hour or so when my battery died. When the whole group on the east side of the road rose, it made such a swishing noise, it was soothing and hypnotic and amazing. Some took off and other landed far side of the Muckland. As my battery had died, I wanted to recharge it, so decided to drive to Carncrass road. While my batter was charging on my car battery, I watched and took videos of Tundra Swans and their behaviors. I just watched the shots on my TV and so many amazing behaviors they seem to have. While I was there several thousands of Snow Geese went north of Carncrass road, to feed I think. But watching them overhead, made me feel dizzy as they made several kinds of patterns, V, U, M, N and Xs. I watched one X it had amazing movements, one group went west and other group east, but maintained that X for quite some time. I shot some part of it and watched it home, it was mind boggling as to how could they do that. As always when I watch these movements, I keep thinking who were the members of each groups, where they random or were they belonging to a specific clan? If they are clans, how do they keep in touch with each other? What is the cue to decide to take off? So many things I would like to learn, but I guess we may need a few more years if not decades to find answers to these questions with the modern technology. By the time I headed back, there were no Snow Geese in the Mucklands. Mucklands seems to be a location with very dynamic activities. Near Tschache channel, there were a few male Hooded Mergansers displaying to a couple of females. I stopped a little ahead and wanted to walk back without alarming them. But some how they sensed my intention, so they scooted. On the way back I took again back roads. Near Warrick and another town (forget name) Townline, I ran into another flock of Snow Geese feeding in the cornfield. I also ran across Greg and Susan at this point. From here I headed straight to lab to take care of something. As I was entering BTI parking lot, again I ran into a Snow Geese flock consisting about 400 birds. As I ran up, my colleague, told me that she has been watching Geese pass by most of the day. Happy birding everyone! Cheers Meena Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 http://haribal.org/ http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ -- 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/ --
