As Gary said, the hour's viewing started out great: water nearly mirror-flat, temperature just above freezing but perhaps not exactly water temperature - distortion didn't come into play for a good long distance. Toward the end a breeze ruffled the water, there was more distortion, and low clouds and a bit of snow came into play. Anyway, I saw ZERO grebes. The most unusual birds for me were the single continuing DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and one of the RED-THROATED LOONS. There were also at least 4 COMMON LOONS off to the north, plus a fifth loon especially far which I suspect was also Common. I also heard one BELTED KINGFISHER and saw plenty of the usual HERRING, GREAT BLACK-BACKED, and RING-BILLED GULLS. There were lots of COMMON MERGANSERS (I counted over 50, but with groups of them flying around faster than I scanned, the accuracy of that count is debatable) plus quite a few HOODED MERGANSERS (at least 17, probably more), COMMON GOLDENEYE (16 or more just on my half of the lake, others closer to Stewart Park, I think). There were at least 60 MALLARDS on my side, at least 5 (maybe 7) AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and a pair of BUFFLEHEAD which surprised me by suddenly coming into my peripheral vision closer than I was scoping. I saw no Aythyas, scoters, other Anas, etc., nor any waterfowl except CANADA GEESE, nearly all of which were at Stewart Park. Although technically it's possible that one or more grebes was present but always underwater when my narrow scope view passed, it seems unlikely because I saw a/the Red-throated Loon on 2 out of 3 scans... Actually if there were 2 Red-throated Loons and I only ever saw one, and that only 2/3 of the time, then maybe that says that a single grebe diving similarly could've been there. But still, I doubt it. Which is not to say it or they didn't or won't drop by again Please everyone, post what grebes you see where, especially noting details of any Aechmophorus types.
--Dave Nutter
After seeing Jay's post of two Western Grebes up the lakeDave and I scanned the south end of the lake from 11:00.The viewing conditions were perfect for most of our time. Dave took the west shore and I the east. Birds were what Kevin has reported minus the Ruddy Duck. No Grebes of any type that we could see.The likelihood of more than two Western Grebes seems dimmer, although two is more than fantastic !
Happy birding
I long scan at East Shore and Stewart parks this morning turned up no grebes. I did have two RED-THROATED LOONS swimming together and a couple more COMMON LOONS far to the northwest.
Lots of COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSERS, a few BUFFLEHEAD, a single male RUDDY DUCK, 2 GADWALL, 6 AMERICAN WIGEON were also present.
Kevin
--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Archives:Please submit your observations to eBird!----Cayugabirds-L List Info:Archives:Please submit your observations to eBird!--
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Archives:
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--
