I decided to check the migration from Mt. Pleasant today between 10:30 and 12:30. Flocks of geese filled the sky in every direction, but not as concentrated as yesterday's mid-day movement. I suspect that I missed much of the movement, especially of Snows as many flocks passed over as I headed up the mountain, and numbers diminished during the time I was there. Most of the larger flocks were well to the west of Mt. Pleasant, but many directly over the observatory at Mt Pleasant as well -- and as they fought the stiff NW wind, birds were often quite low.
Overall, I had roughly equal numbers of CANADA GEESE (11,800) and SNOW GEESE (9000) -- but 2000+ of the SNOWs were in a stubble field farther east on Mt. Pleasant Rd. I found a pair of ROSS's GEESE together in this flock, but they all took off before I could attempt photos. I also saw at least 6 CACKLING GEESE among the large flocks of Canadas -- observing relative size was difficult in some flocks, as many were mixed Canadas and Snows. Other birds of interest passing by were 8 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 4 TUNDRA SWANS, 1 adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 1 immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK (large brown, streaky, big-chested), several hundred COMMON GRACKLES, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and AMERICAN ROBINS, and 3 AMERICAN PIPITS. a flock of 10 KILLDEER was in a field across from the observatory, and 2 SNOW BUNTINGS flushed when the large Snow Goose flock took off. It was very difficult scanning in all directions, and fighting the strong gusty winds, so I'm sure I missed many birds! KEN Ken Rosenberg Conservation Science Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2412 607-342-4594 (cell) [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
