Despite stiff winds all day, our SFO day trip group to Montezuma NWR, led by Bill Ostrander, saw a total of 58 species on our way around Cayuga Lake (eBird checklists below).
We started in Stewart Park where we were treated to numerous waterfowl, starring a NORTHERN PINTAIL, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, and our first BALD EAGLE of the day. We also briefly spotted a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER entering the willows by the lake and a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD by the boathouse. At Myers Point, we encountered KILLDEER, COOTS, REDHEAD, and GADWALL, among others. BUFFLEHEAD were the only waterbirds at Wells College Boathouse, but at Union Springs Pond we were greeted by an OSPREY in addition to the usual suspects. We arrived at Montezuma around 10:30 AM and used the Visitor Center as a windbreak while we viewed AMERICAN WIGEON, many GREEN- and three BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a female NORTHERN HARRIER, and my first NORTHERN FLICKER of the year. The Wildlife Drive gave us great looks at CANVASBACK and NORTHERN SHOVELER in good numbers, a male HARRIER, and four wee DUNLIN. Incidental sightings by other group members included a HORNED LARK, but Bill and I missed it because we were too busy watching the male Harrier. Additional species seen at Tschache Pool were TRUMPETER SWANS, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. Knox-Marsellus Marsh was very windy but we saw a small group of SNOW GEESE (including one blue goose), WILD TURKEYS, and a single GREATER YELLOWLEGS. More Greater yellowlegs were seen at Carncross Road, where we struggled to remain upright in the wind but were rewarded with a KESTREL, who was also struggling against the wind. A final stop in Sheldrake on the return to Ithaca included just a handful of BUFFLEHEAD and one last GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. Did I mention that it was windy? http://www.flickr.com/photos/anikarenina/8630474695/ Andrea Wiggins Syracuse, NY 13210 eBird checklists: Stewart Park: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676152 Stewart Park: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676180 Myers Point: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676205 Myers Point: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676218 Wells College Boathouse: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676240 Union Springs Pond: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676278 Montezuma VC: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676297 Montezuma VC: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676318 Montezuma Wildlife Drive: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676441 Montezuma Tschache Pool: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676511 Montezuma Knox-Marsellus: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676552 Montezuma Carncross Rd: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676574 Sheldrake: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13676597 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
