COLD down on the lake this Saturday, but a very good mix of waterfowl!
Taking the Humber Bay Promenade off of the park West, (park in the summer boat
loading lot, cross the park road, and walk along the boardwalk to the gazebo)
were MUTE SWAN, TRUMPETER SWAN, LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD,
MALLARD, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, possibly a RING-NECKED DUCK pair,
but they were really scraggly and may be a mistake. Plenty of CANADA GEESE, of
course! RING-BILLED GULL, a single CALIFORNIA GULL, and another large gull with
a single red spot on the bill, probably HERRING, but gulls are NOT my forte!
If all of your views of Goldeneye and Long-tailed ducks have been in choppy
water or far away, the gazebo is great. They're right next to you!
A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was near the white bridge crossing the river between
park East and West. Also there was a GREAT BLUE HERON.
In the pond in the park East, (where the cormorants hang out in summer) were a
REDHEAD pair (with more just out in the bay), RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and
HOODED MERGANSER with three males doing their hilarious mating dance for the
females. The crests were high, the bobbing and shaking of heads was vigorous,
and the back-neck-bend with hoking was the funniest thing I've seen!
Buffleheads, Mallards, the other usual suspects there as well. BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEES and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were up in the trees with NORTHERN
CARDINALS.
*****NOTE*****
While the main road that follows the butterfly garden is open, the turn off to
Humber Bay Park East is CLOSED for construction. Best to park along the garden,
or in the boat ramp lot in the park West and cross the bridge.
Happy Birding, and Happy Holidays!
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