I was at Myers Point for a couple hours this morning (7:20-9:40), and although I didn't see anything particularly exciting, the difference in waterfowl I saw compared to Ethan et al at the Loon Watch was interesting. A fairly large flock of mixed diving ducks was on the lake straight off the point (probably because of hunting pressure off the marina), composed mostly of SCAUP but with 12+ REDHEAD, 4 CANVASBACK (first I've seen in the county this fall), 2 SURF SCOTERS, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, and American Black Duck. A couple of BUFFLEHEAD and COMMON GOLDENEYE flew by, as well as a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and a pair of Hooded Mergansers. A dusky-necked juvenile RED-THROATED LOON was fairly close off the point and then flew and landed again to the north of the park, and lots of Common Loons were moving, quite a few north as well as south. No sign of the Spotted Sandpiper in the creek--the last time I saw it was November 16th, although a KILLDEER was in the same area on the 20th (and some latish FIELD SPARROWS on Salt Point the same day.)
Not too much else to report lately...I've been to the Park Preserve a couple of times in the last few days. Brad and I had one flyover WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL there on Wednesday, but otherwise pretty quiet. Highlight that day was a singing NORTHERN SHRIKE which I attempted to record a little later in the morning without success. This is not a behavior we get to witness very often around here, so if anyone else encounters a shrike vocalizing (or really a shrike at all), let me know! Summerhill was pretty devoid of finches on Thursday as well, with not even a siskin flyover, but I did find a nice group of 30+ EVENING GROSBEAKS on East Lake Road on the NE corner of Lake Como thanks to a tip from Stuart. Finally, going back all the way to Monday (19Nov), before finding the Le Conte's Sparrow on Freese Road I had a nice look at a flyover LAPLAND LONGSPUR that went right overhead giving "tew" and rattle calls. Late in the day, Andrew VanNorstrand and I refound a very late BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER that has been seen around the swan pen at Stewart Park (and may still be present.) Good birding, -Jay -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology [email protected] -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
