After the heads-up(s) from Dave Nicosia and others, I got out with binocs and scope to watch the big flights, from about 11am-1pm, from my Lansing backyard. I counted all birds in a few Canada Goose vees so I could estimate the size of others, and figure I saw 2500+ birds in the couple of hours I watched. I did not see any Snow Geese.
But the most striking sight today was the mixed vee: I knew there was something weird, unbalanced, so got glasses on it. On one side, about 30 Canada Geese; on the other side, the first 10 birds were also CAGO, but then in perfect formation behind them, larger, all white birds showing translucent primaries and distinct black feet. Swans! I can't say for sure which, though I would guess Tundra. I'm sure the experts have seen this before, but this was definitely a first for me. I had a couple prospective Rough-legged Hawks, based on dark underside, buteo wing shape, but they were doing at least 60mph northwards, so I had little time to examine them and wasn't absolutely sure the dark underside wasn't a trick of the light. Like the Geese, these hawks were flying so high today that my aging eyes had trouble seeing them without using the binocs. Neighborhood Red-tailed Hawk and a couple Turkey Vultures circled through the scene as did a random selection of Ring-billed Gulls. I spotted one singleton 'duck', longish neck, so maybe a Common Merganser, but that was too far away (it was flying SE unlike the migrant flocks). Also, a flock of 6 'ducks' too far away for any other ID. Fairly large flock of probable Red-winged Blackbirds passed through but only the one time. No eagles, though I had hopes... Still need a Golden for the yard list. First of year Red-breasted Nuthatch appeared first by its call, then later I spotted it. Singing Carolina Wren is setting up headquarters again in the woodpiles. American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Juncos, House Sparrows, spatting Northern Cardinal males, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jays, a few chortles from Red-bellied Woodpecker. Heard a Northern Mockingbird trying out a few songs yesterday but didn't hear it today. For the last two weeks, a Screechie has been singing the monotone trill in the pines on either side of our little patch just after dark, so we have hopes he or she will find a mate. First 'yard' Wild Turkeys of the year waltzed part way up the street today til something startled the 6 hens and they thought better of holding a parade and ran back to the woods. Some time after, a Red Fox ran through our yard to the same woods, but likely for much smaller game than a turkey. We've seen a pair of foxes together this year and lots of tracks in the snow of same, so hoping they will also breed again as they did last year. ChrisP -- 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/ --
