Saw potential fallout conditions from Ithaca and points north on the radar before sunrise
so decided to take SFO group down to the lake instead of the uplands today. We started at Myer's and immediately got on one flock of BONAPARTE'S GULLS migrating north along the lake. Then there was flock after flock of BONAPARTE'S GULLS heading north... at times some would land at the point and at one time we had 4 different birds ranging from full non-breeding, to partially breeding to the complete black headed breeding plumage . In addition, CASPIAN TERNS landed at the point too as well which was awesome. We got excellent views of these beautiful birds. There were also many BUFFLEHEAD, one LONG-TAILED DUCK, 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, COMMON LOON. We also had an OSPREY fly quite low over Myer's. We also saw many TREE and BARN SWALLOWS migrating up the lake. One of the students got on a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED as well. >From Ladoga, best bird was a RED-NECKED GREBE which was distant. We also had awesome views of 2 COMMON LOONS in breeding plumage really close. Eventually we counted at least 7 COMMON LOONs. There were also many HORNED GREBES, we counted 44 . 2 OSPREYS were chasing each other through some trees. >From Stewart Park we had lots of variety of waterfowl of which the students >did a great job identifying...REDHEAD...LESSER SCAUP...BUFFLEHEAD...RUDDY DUCK... MALLARD...BLACK DUCK....COMMON MERGANSER...RING-NECKED DUCK and COMMON GOLDENEYE. They also got on AMERICAN COOTS...PIED BILLED GREBE...HORNED GREBES and a distant COMMON LOON. We also found the EARED GREBE distant across from the red jetty. The bird appeared to be in non-breeding plumage but lighting was not great so it could have been transitional to an extent. It was not in full breeding that is for sure. I don't believe this was the same bird Carl Steckler photographed. The head was smaller more triangularish than the horned grebes also... grayish cheeks. Shape was distinctly different than the HORNED GREBES. Back at Sapsucker Woods, we started to round the bend past Kip's Barn and we noticed a bunch of sparrows...some with white outer tail feathers and not juncos! VESPER SPARROWS. We counted 2 but apparently there were even more as Jay reported later. We also had SAVANNAH, SONG, and CHIPPING. I believe one of the students had a FIELD SPARROW too but was not seen by all. Then an adult GOLDEN EAGLE flew over toward the airport! This was exciting but it could potentially be a lost bird as per my email below. In all, I think we totaled 67 species or so. Another day of great birds and great people! Dave Nicosia -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
