Forgot to mention: Thanks to a hot tip from another birder at Myers Point, we saw the lovely EASTERN SCREECH-OWL framed by a large oval knot-hole in a dead tree below the orchards on Sweazey Rd in Lansing.
--Dave Nutter
On Mar 04, 2014, at 09:37 PM, Dave Nutter <[email protected]> wrote:
This afternoon Ann Mitchell & I birded the east side of Cayuga Lake.
Before we left Ithaca, we toured the Northside neighborhood in quest of FISH CROWS, and we eventually heard and saw at least 2 among AMERICAN CROWS near the sadly twice-defunct grocery store at First & Hancock Streets.
We skipped East Shore Park because the ice edge was by the houses to the north. Our first stop along the lake was Ladoga Park Rd, where we expected open water, but were surprised to see the entire bight from Portland Point to Myers Point iced over, except for a distant lead and 3 small and crowded polynyas, which still made for good birding. One of these openings was south of Ladoga along the shore where perhaps a stream comes in. Two others were near the south side of the Finger Lakes Marine Service marina next to Myers Point Park, and there was a small area of open water within that marina as well. A birder we met there said a huge ice floe floated north to help create the shelf. Birds at those openings included at least 14 NORTHERN PINTAILS, several AMERICAN WIGEON, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, all 5 usual Aythya, AMERICAN COOT, CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS and AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS. Out on the open water, better seen from the lighthouse, were 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 31 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and lots of COMMON GOLDENEYE. North of Myers Point was a distant raft of mixed Aythya and in the cove north of Salt Point were more ducks in good variety. The 3 usual gull species rested on the icy shoals north of the mouth of Salmon Creek.
We skipped north to Union Springs, which was iced in, and then headed back south. Highlights at the Mill Pond in Union Springs included one each continuing RED-NECKED GREBE, HORNED GREBE, and male WOOD DUCK ( the latter flew, perhaps to the outlet stream, shortly after I found him). A female GREEN-WINGED TEAL tried to hide in the Factory Street Pond. There were great looks at GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, TUNDRA SWAN, and BUFFLEHEAD in these ponds.
From the cliffs by Mackenzie-Childs we saw 7 each HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBES, 2 pairs of MUTE SWANS and 9 or more TUNDRA SWANS. There were plenty of ducks at the Wells College Boathouse, but a dearth of grebes. Long Point State Park had 13 HORNED and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, 20 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, a distant pair of NORTHERN PINTAIL, lots of CANVASBACKS, and a nice variety of other ducks.
In the cedar-strewn woods north of Long Point State Park we saw a single YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER as well as a CAROLINA WREN, and several EASTERN BLUEBIRDS with the more usual winter woods birds. From here south through Lansing, we saw occasional groups of AMERICAN ROBINS in trees and in spread-out flying flocks.
At 5:30pm as we drove past the fields between Long Point State Park and the Long Point Winery, and we saw 1 SHORT-EARED OWL atop a power pole.
Despite today's cold temperatures it was great birding because the low winds made the lake calm and the wind chill tolerable just long enough to give the lake a decent scan. But we couldn't find Carl Steckler's Surf Scoters, so we'll have to be content with his fine photos for now.--Dave Nutter--
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