Yesterday afternoon in front of my house just north of Hog Hole, all
that was left of the thousands of waterfowl that have gathered every
day were 43 American Coots, apparently not minding the gunfire.
There had been regular Tundra Swans (about 20) and Redheads (more
than 1500), a scattering of Canvasbacks, Ring-necked Ducks, American
Black Ducks, Scaup, and many Canadas. I look forward to their return
after hunting season, and after the CBC. I miss them. I didn't
report the vast numbers to the list because hunters read the postings.
Elaina
At 8:48 PM -0800 12/27/09, Dave Nutter wrote:
A late-morning / early-afternoon walk revealed that the southwest
part of Cayuga Lake pretty well had the birds cleared out of it.
The only Aythya I saw there were a couple of male Redhead carcasses
held by one of half a dozen gunners in camo who had set up with a
couple of grounded boats and a lawn chair in water a few inches deep
along the shore of Treman Marine Park, while their dogs sat beside
them on the beach. For live birds on the lake (greatly outnumbered
by plastic) there were 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 3 MALLARDS, a tight
flock of AMERICAN COOTS, 6 COMMON LOONS in the distance (including a
close group of 4 to the northeast), 1 HORNED GREBE in the distance
to the northwest, and in the inlet 1 male REDHEAD listing heavily, 2
female LESSER SCAUP (1 with a disheveled wing), and 6 female
BUFFLEHEAD. When the gunners packed up and left for the East Shore
Marina, even before the sound, smell, and wake of their boats
subsided, a flock of 1 male and 6 female HOODED MERGANSER flew from
that direction to the southwest corner of the lake. At Stewart Park
the ice was crowded with CANADA GEESE (including the domestic
hybrid), MALLARDS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, a couple of COMMON
MERGANSERS, and plenty of HERRING, RING-BILLED, and GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Off the ice off Stewart Park I saw 1 male and 2
female COMMON GOLDENEYE. The lake looked empty compared to the
hundreds of ducks, geese, and swans that were on it a couple days
ago, and I am sad despite the beautiful day. I look forward to the
return of the survivors when it it safe.
Other birds included 2 separate NORTHERN FLICKERS, an EASTERN
BLUEBIRD, 5 AMERICAN ROBINS foraging together on some lawn, 2
separate NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS, 3 separate singing CAROLINA WRENS,
at least 5 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS in a flock near the mouth of the
inlet, a couple of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, a SONG SPARROW, lots of
AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, among other expected birds. Twice I heard but
did not see a RED-TAILED HAWK, but once I suspected BLUE JAYS were
to blame.
--Dave Nutter
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