There were some exciting birds on the lake today! I don't have a scope, only have binoculars...but I got some amazing views of birds flying over my head and in very close!! I will post my sketches today or tomorrow on the club Facebook page. Here is my report for today:
Upper Taughannok, 11-11:30am 1 Black Vulture(?) flying south, crows protesting Taughnnok Marina (north beaches, parking lot is plowed), 12-2pm Redheads in the creek 6 Wilson's Phalarope(?), did they winter here? average arrival date is May 18th. 4 Killdeer (identified by call and then two rings under neck while in flight southbound) Semipalmated Plover(?) (3 in flight up close and standing on ice shelf far away, in flight, they had the coloring of a sandpiper on the back (winter plumage) with one white stripe, shape and size like a barn swallow but smaller than a Killdeer, no flight calling, average arrival date May 10) 12 Black Ducks 5-7 Tundra Swans flying north, identified by gorgeous flying northbound! Common Mergansers (many dozens) 4 Buffleheads (1 male, 3 female) Ithaca Yacht Club, 2-2:30pm Black Duck (very visible amongst the other Scaup) Common Goldeneye Redbreasted Merganser Ruddy Ducks (2 female, maybe more) 2 Coots 3+ male Hooded Mergansers Redheads * * * * * * * * * *"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come ALIVE, for what the world needs is people who have come ALIVE." - Dr. Howard Thurman, American Theologian, Clergyman and Activist (1900-1981) * Sandra (Sandy) Wold NYS Certified Math/Science Teacher and Tutor *www.sites.google.com/site/fallcreektutoringservices/home <http://www.sites.google.com/site/fallcreektutoringservices/home>* Interdisciplinary Visionary Artist https://www.linkedin.com/pub/sandra-sandy-wold/a7/114/877 Cayuga Basin Bioregion Map, Author, Originator, and Publisher www.sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/ <https://sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/> -- 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/ --
