The most abundant duck species today at Clear Lake was the Canvasback. There were still numbers of Lesser Scaup and many Redheaded Ducks; only a handful of C. Mergansers remained. There were a few Cackling Geese with the Canada and that was it for geese. C. Loons were seen. I did not see a Double-crested Cormorant, though there was one on the creek out back here yesterday. Some of the Blue Herons have returned to their nesting area in the northwest quadrant of Mason City. Hundreds of Robins were out and about along with a few Bluebirds.
Rita Goranson Mason City, Iowa -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of P Hertzel Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 9:59 PM To: IA-BIRD Subject: [ia-bird] Re: Clear Lake With recent rains, the two holes at Clear Lake have expanded greatly, but there is still considerable ice, enough to keep boats on the shore where they belong, and waterfowl on the water. I'm thinking of starting a Boats-Indoors Initiative. Today, the most abundant species was Lesser Scaup, with 2500-3000 individuals, and Common Mergansers a distant second with perhaps 350. Also present were 14 other waterfowl species, including my first-of-season Ruddy Ducks and Common Loons, and many thousands of Ring-billed Gulls. Oddly, there were no migrant geese at all. Paul Hertzel Mason City --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected] --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
