Hi all, After getting a late start I spent a little time birding at the south end of Seneca Lake (Schuyler Co.) and then scoping the lake near Dresden (Yates Co.) today. Nothing really unexpected for this time of year, but since it was the first time I've been up along the lake in a while a few observations stood out, including:
Leaving our hill to head towards the lake (Horseheads): 1 Merlin, which has been sporadically hanging around the base of our hill this winter At Seneca Harbor Park (Watkins Glen): 7 Pied-billed Grebes 1 Greater Scaup 1 Double-crested Cormorant At Long Point (Dresden): 4 Long-tailed Ducks 1 Belted Kingfisher 8 American Wigeon The observation that stole the show, however, was a flock of Snow geese. As I drove north on Rte. 14 I saw a few individual skeins moving east towards Seneca Lake, a couple dozen birds in each. As I approached Prejean Winery (just south of Leach Rd.), I saw hundreds circling to the west and appearing to land. I headed west on Leach Rd. to see if, and where, they were landing, and how many were in the flock. The hundreds of geese turned out to be thousands, my estimate was 8,500 birds covering the fields and filling the air -- by far the largest flock I've ever seen in New York, rivaling the numbers I've seen on their wintering grounds in coastal Virginia or in Arkansas. Many remained on the ground, but there was a near constant swirling of birds above the field, some birds settling down as others lifted off. Two other cars of local residents pulled over to watch, both commenting on the flocks they typically encounter in their fields and how this spectacle dwarfed those numbers. Coupled with the steady cacophony of calling, it was truly an amazing experience. I did not note any rarities, but it wouldn't surprise me if I missed something in there! Good birding, Mike -- Mike Powers Horseheads, NY -- 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/ --
