24 August 2007

Highlights: Jaeger sp., Red Knot, Black Tern

WEATHER: For the first time in several days, the winds were out of the northwest! Visibility was nonexistent for the first hour but it slowly cleared. Temperatures were comfortable at around 20 Celsius.

WATERBIRDS: The winds out of the northwest really uncorked the Red-necked Grebes today. The 8 hour total was over 1500 birds! The last hour of the count alone had over 400. Other waterbird species seen included: American Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter (first of the season), White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon (5), Common Loon (38), and Horned Grebe.

SHOREBIRDS: It was another decent day for shorebirds with 9 species seen. A flock of 7+ Black-bellied Plovers zipped overhead as did a flock of nearly 10 Semipalmated Plovers. Then a flock of "peeps" landed with a gargantuan Red Knot amongst them. The knot was seen a couple times throughout the day but I don't believe it was present at the end of the count. Other shorebirds today included a Ruddy Turnstone, several Sanderlings, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Baird's Sandpiper (10).

GULLS/TERNS/JAEGERS: The first Jaeger of the fall was seen during the third hour of the count. It was a high-flying, distant bird that seemed more interested in migrating than chasing other birds. Due to the distance, this bird will be left as a "Jaeger species". Another highlight was a group of 5 Black Terns that came by amidst nearly 100 Common Terns. Several small flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls were also present today.

Overall, it was a great day for birding here. Although I was unable to bird back in the pines, it sounds like the warbler activity was decent. I did hear a Mourning Warbler on my way out to the waterbird shack this morning though. Always a treat here.

Good Birding!
More tomorrow,

Cory Gregory
arcticory@gmail.com
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