Today I walked to the lake along NYS-89. The main ice shelf was just shy of the piling cluster in the middle of the lake (out from #877), but considerable extra ice extended farther north along the shores. On the east, thin sheets, not all of them attached, were in front of the houses but not to the hill on NYS-34. On the west an irregular but more solid shelf ended near #971 NYS-89, where I scoped between houses and through trees. I was hoping I might track down Carl's Surf Scoters, because I'd seen some dark ducks from the taxi yesterday, but either they left or it was a mistaken backlit impression. I saw no scoters at all, and diversity and numbers of waterfowl were down. I suspect they are gathering at the north end of the lake. There were COMMON GOLDENEYES and COMMON MERGANSERS dispersed on the lake, the latter around the ice edge as well, as were CANVASBACKS, but there were only a few REDHEADS, a handful of MALLARDS, LESSER SCAUPS, BUFFLEHEADS, and HOODED MERGANSERS, and a single male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. One unusual find was an immature GLAUCOUS GULL on the ice near the east shore, standing slightly apart from the numerous HERRING and not-so-numerous GREAT BLACK-BACKED and RING-BILLED GULLS. The most exciting find for me was 3 winter plumage RED-NECKED GREBES fairly close to the west shore, 2 resting near one another (1 with head tucked) and the third diving. These are new for my Ithaca and Luddite lists for the year.
Thanks for all the examples of inebriated birds. I still find it surprising and wonder how often it happens. The fact that I've never seen it myself makes me feel like I don't get out enough. I want to plant trees that will bear fruit attractive CEDAR WAXWINGS and other frugivores, but I don't want to intoxicate them, so I'd appreciate more notes on what trees' (other than palms) fruit ferments dangerously.
Thanks for all the examples of inebriated birds. I still find it surprising and wonder how often it happens. The fact that I've never seen it myself makes me feel like I don't get out enough. I want to plant trees that will bear fruit attractive CEDAR WAXWINGS and other frugivores, but I don't want to intoxicate them, so I'd appreciate more notes on what trees' (other than palms) fruit ferments dangerously.
--Dave Nutter
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