I ventured up the lake after 1 pm to try and find the Snow Buntings and
Horned Larks Bob reported yesterday. I first saw the manure on the
field from Jerry Smith Road, but the birds were very distant, closer to
Davis Road. I drove down Jerry Smith and turned south onto Davis. They
were very close to Davis Road. They would swirl up and go back and forth
on the field sometimes landing in the corn stubble or in the grass strip
closer to Davis Road. A couple friends drove up and were looking for
them too. We stayed for probably a half hour and the Snow Buntings and
Horned Larks were then crossing the road to the field behind us. They
were landing on the road in front and behind our vehicles. Sometimes
quite close. There were definitely hundreds of Snow Buntings. Horned
Larks were mixed in and constantly moving. We found we had to be really
still as the birds that were close to us in the road would take off if
we moved! A very enjoyable time seeing them so close and the large
flocks swirling back and forth. I haven't seen that in years.
I went on a bit further to look at the ag fields on Nut Ridge Road (Bell
Station). As I turned onto Nut Ridge I saw a very distant flock flying,
20-30 that appeared to be Horned Larks. Quickly I saw some Snow Geese
and so stopped. They were grazing on one of the grassy strips and
covered it pretty much from one end to the south end of the field. They
were not far off Nut Ridge, and I had really nice views just with my
binocs. I never got out of the car because I thought they would take
off. There were dark adults and one I saw I believe was a white
juvenile. I stayed put for a bit watching them, and then drove slowly
further down towards the lake and turned around in one of the drives
that enter the field. I pulled over to continue watching them and look
for other field birds. Several times I saw flocks of mostly Horned
Larks flying around the field. A few single birds landed on the
shoulder of Nut Ridge Road. Once as a group came closer, I was able to
see several Snow Buntings mixed in. Later a group of maybe 100 flew up
and they crossed Nut Ridge and kept flying north. As I drove back up
Nut Ridge, a car coming towards me stopped. It was Mrs. Stevens who
lives down there. She was thrilled to see and hear the Snow Geese. As
we talked the geese suddenly got loud and flew up and then came back
down in the field, but at the south end. I estimate there was over a
1,000 Snow Geese. A small group of Snow Geese (20-25) had wandered up
towards Lake Ridge road, very close to Nut Ridge, walking along and
grazing!
I saw 9 Dark-eyed Juncos and four Cardinals together along the shoulder
of Nut Ridge. I saw 4 Tree Sparrows on the shoulder of Lake Ridge
Road. A Turkey Vulture was sitting in the road right near Nut Ridge
feeding on a carcass. I thought I would chuck it (the road kill) out of
the road so the TV wouldn't get hit. As I approached I saw it was a
skunk. Never mind. The TV flew off and did not return. As I later
drove 34B, I saw about 15 Snow Buntings fly into a field from the
telephone wires. Horned Larks flew up from the secondary roads as I
drove around. A nice afternoon.
Good birding,
Gladys
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