I took a walk to the lake this afternoon. There's a lot of ice: The inlet is completely frozen, and along with the Stewart Park ice extends well past and around the white lighthouse, halfway past the red lighthouse breakwater on the east side, and almost to the red lighthouse itself on the west side, sweeping north well past our usual west shore viewing spots. I'm curious what will happen to the ice with the rain, wind, and bitter cold that's forecast.
Despite the ice I was able to see some neat birds, including a male NORTHERN PINTAIL northeast of the red lighthouse, at least 3 HORNED GREBES scattered far north of Stewart Park, a single PIED-BILLED GREBE in the southeast part of the lake, a single AMERICAN COOT hiding under the western docks, a single DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT resting on the piling cluster (which I determined by viewing past #883 NYS-89 is outside City of Ithaca waters), and, viewing from the parking area for #907 NYS-89, the group of 2 male & 4 female WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS which I assume is the same group that was in the area for many weeks. I found the Northern Pintail too late to include in the count week, while yesterday's Northern Pintail in Sheldrake was within the time frame but a dozen miles or so outside the count circle. Ken's Cackling Goose today is similarly inside but too late. And the continuing Short-eared Owls which Marie Read reported along Lake Road in Ledyard were within the time frame but also way outside the circle. As far as I've heard, no species were added during count week.
Despite the ice I was able to see some neat birds, including a male NORTHERN PINTAIL northeast of the red lighthouse, at least 3 HORNED GREBES scattered far north of Stewart Park, a single PIED-BILLED GREBE in the southeast part of the lake, a single AMERICAN COOT hiding under the western docks, a single DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT resting on the piling cluster (which I determined by viewing past #883 NYS-89 is outside City of Ithaca waters), and, viewing from the parking area for #907 NYS-89, the group of 2 male & 4 female WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS which I assume is the same group that was in the area for many weeks. I found the Northern Pintail too late to include in the count week, while yesterday's Northern Pintail in Sheldrake was within the time frame but a dozen miles or so outside the count circle. Ken's Cackling Goose today is similarly inside but too late. And the continuing Short-eared Owls which Marie Read reported along Lake Road in Ledyard were within the time frame but also way outside the circle. As far as I've heard, no species were added during count week.
--Dave Nutter
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