This morning (21 Nov) from the NW end of the NYS-89 bridge over the Flood Control Channel I watched for loons for 3 hours starting 15 minutes before sunrise. The temperature was in the 40sF, the NW wind was not too strong, the sky was mostly cloudy, and there were quite a few loons, all of which made it much more satisfying (not too cold, easier to see loons, saw more loons) compared to last time when I gambled with the snow and lost. Here’s my count, by 15-minute Meade Periods:
1) 24 flew south (2 singles, 7 groups); -0- flew north. 2) 56 flew south (9 singles, 11 groups); 3 singles flew north 3) 13 flew south (7 singles, 1 group); 1 flew north 4) -0- flew south; 2 singles flew north 5) 9 flew south (4 singles, 1 group); -0- flew north 6) 36 flew south ( -0- singles, 6 groups); 1 flew north 7) 17 flew south (8 singles, 3 groups); -0- flew north 8) 3 flew south (1 single, 1 group); -0- flew north 9) 5 flew south (-0- singles, 2 groups); -0- flew north 10) 2 flew south (2 singles, -0- groups); -0- flew north 11) 2 flew south (2 singles, -0- groups); 1 flew north 12) 5 flew south (-0- singles, 1 group); 2 singles flew north Totals: 173 seemed to migrate south past me (37 singly, and the other 136 in 33 groups of 2 or more), but 10 flew north, all singly. One loon flew in a complete circle, seeming to wait for another loon to catch up, whom it joined to continue flying south together - a friend? - or someone who knew the way better? Other birds of note: An immature Bald Eagle seen 3 times in various places was presumed to be the same bird. At 0801 a long narrow V of 18 Tundra Swans (positive ID by voice) flew south over Cornell U. - - Dave Nutter -- 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/ --
