Birders, In traveling from my parent's in Kossuth county to my sister's in Cerro Gordo county, I decided to check Crystal Lake in Hancock county and Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo county en route. Although I haven't been out birding much recently, I imagine this cold front brought a number of birds. Those of interest are listed below.
*Crystal Lake:* Common Loon - 14 Horned Grebe - 2 Lesser Scaup - 18 Ruddy Duck - 64 Hooded Merganser - 4 beautiful drakes Trumpeter Swan - 3 (2 adults and 1 juvenile) Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 flew over while I was scoping the lake I also had one VERY curious Mink approach me as if he was a pet when I was scoping the lake. I was able to snag a quick photo as he was running away (come to find out he was approaching me because I wasn't moving; when I moved, he went from curious to scared). *Clear Lake:* White-winged Scoter - 1 immature female in with a group of coots and Canvasbacks on Little Lake Common Loon - 67 Ruddy Duck - 31 Canvasback - 19 Osprey - 1 carrying a fish in front of McIntosh Woods The east end of the lake was littered with Common Loons. Near sunset, several hundred gulls came in to roost. I was losing light quickly and was able to pick out 2 immature Herring Gulls and a handful of Bonaparte's Gulls amongst the several Ring-billed Gulls. Take care, Tyler Harms Mason City, Cerro Gordo co. --- 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]
