Here's highlights of my Spring Field Ornithology group's second day at the north end of the Cayuga Lake Basin:
Seneca Fairgrounds, east of NYS 414, north of Martin Rd, Seneca Falls: UPLAND SANDPIPERS - 2 in grass at north end, brief pose atop pole, later 1 close by further south HORNED LARKS - close views EASTERN BLUEBIRD - posed for photo on close fencepost SAVANNAH SPARROWS - close & singing EASTERN MEADOWLARKS Cayuga Lake State Park, Seneca Falls, morning and evening: LESSER SCAUP - several along Lower Lake Rd SURF SCOTER - 2F, 1M far to east in evening, thanks to Susan Danskin's call COMMON GOLDENEYE - 1M, 1F to north, seen better in evening, this is late in the season for them HORNED GREBE - 1 winter, 2 breeding plumage far to north in morning, far to east in evening RED-NECKED GREBE - 2 breeding plumage, far to east in evening BALD EAGLE - 2 adults flew over in evening BONAPARTE'S GULL - 2 close migrating north in morning NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW - 1 entering nesting cavity - pipe below side of dock Tschache Pool: BLUE-WINGED TEAL - 2M, 1(+?)F close to tower by shore behind bushes BALD EAGLE - immature on muskrat mound TRUMPETER SWAN - pair far in distance May's Point Pool: (TRUMPETER SWAN pair was close to road Saturday when we didn't stop) CASPIAN TERN - several flew by SWAMP SPARROW - singing close by in view East Road: SNOW GEESE - several white & 1 "Blue" on dike DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT - herds on water BALD EAGLE - immature soaring over pond PILEATED WOODPECKER - flyby BARN SWALLOW - 1 on wire new pond (name?) east of NYS 89 just south of Audubon Center: COOPER'S HAWK pursued by AMERICAN CROW for nice size reference GREATER YELLOWLEGS WILSON'S SNIPE - 18 on various small islands, best seen from pull off with big sign on NYS 89 Railroad Road: VIRGINIA RAIL - heard by all, glimpsed by some AMERICAN BITTERN - heard by some Martens Tract: TRUMPETER SWAN - several in pond WOOD DUCK - in pond, canal and marsh AMERICAN BLACK DUCK - pair took off from marsh PIED-BILLED GREBE calling in pond and marsh COMMON MOORHEN - heard by all and glimpsed by one of us along dike to south & east of parking area TREE SWALLOWS - close by at boxes by parking area Sheldrake Point, Ovid: COMMON LOON - several flocks, 50+ total, dozing while swimming north in middle of lake, all breeding plumage except 1 juvenile BELTED KINGFISHER - flying below us by cliff These were just the highlights. There were many species of waterfowl among the many sites. Another fun day of birding. It was great to have so many eyes searching for the birds. --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --