In addition to the Red-necked Grebe at Ladoga today, Drew and I had a
few other interesting sightings. The wind was calm and the lake like
glass in several places. And no "heat" shimmer. Therefor, it was a
good day for birds on the water.
But first we encountered a flock of 100 Horned larks on the now-old
manure spread across from the Triangle Diner. No buntings or
longspurs, but we suspected that they might still be in the
neighborhood.
Aurora Bay, scoped from the parking lot above the boathouse, yielded 6
Horned Grebes, a pair of White-winged Scoters, and two Long-tailed
Ducks. The scoters were in adult plumage, different, I think, from the
WHWISC seen on the lake recently. There remains a tight flock of
Redheads north of the boathouse, but the numbers seemed reduced from
past weeks. In fact a large portion of the aythya flock now seems
strung out along the ice edge just north of Union Springs.
Van Dyne Spoor Road was drivable to the far end, but we found nothing
of interest - no shrike, mockingbird, kestrel, rough-legged, or harrier.
Van Cleef Lake was still completely frozen, and no gulls were present.
Coming down the west side of the lake, we found the ice edge between
Parker Road (Canoga) and Bonnie Banks Road. We noted goldeneye, a
portion of the aythya flock, Tundra Swans, and a single Common Loon.
Finally, along Elm Beach Road we found 11 Horned Grebes - likely
different ones from those in Aurora Bay earlier. Not much of interest
along Wyers Point Rd/Sheldrake. And we missed grackle at Bill &
Shirley's.
All in all, it was a good day, and great to be out without needing
hand warmers!
Bob McGuire
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