12 September 2007

Highlights: SABINE'S GULL (1), PARASITIC JAEGER (1), BLACK TERN (1), BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (1), PEREGRINE FALCON (1)

WEATHER: Moderate winds from the NW brought us cooler temperatures (11-13 Celsius), cloudy skies, and a couple good birds.

DUCKS & GEESE: It was a decent day for both numbers and variety. Numbers included 275+ CANADA GEESE, 20+ AMERICAN WIGEON, 10+ MALLARD, 5+ NORTHERN SHOVELER, 35+ NORTHERN PINTAIL, and also a mix of GREEN-WINGED TEAL and BLUE-WINGED TEAL. GREATER SCAUP numbers are slowly rising, nearly 10 were seen today. Less than 10 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were also seen.

LOONS & GREBES: It was a moderate RED-NECKED GREBE day with over 700 tallied. A couple HORNED GREBES, nearly 80 COMMON LOONS, and 4 RED-THROATED LOONS were also seen.

SHOREBIRDS: Overall, shorebird numbers have seemed to be down over the last couple days. An AMERICAN-GOLDEN PLOVER, several SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and some SANDERLING were seen today along with a lone BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER.

JAEGERS/GULLS/TERNS: At around 0730, a juvenile SABINE'S GULL came by the point. It was foraging close to shore, heading northwest into a headwind. It stayed in view for a solid 5 minutes. About 10 minutes later, an intermediate-type juvenile PARASITIC JAEGER was seen harassing the gulls at the point before it eventually continued south. Late in the count, an adult BLACK TERN was seen passing the point, heading south.

RAPTORS: A PEREGRINE FALCON flew in and cruised along the bay shore before heading inland, just south of the shack. Also, a group of up to 7 NORTHERN HARRIERS were seen swooping around far over the lake. RED-TAILED HAWK, MERLIN, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK were also seen.

Not many other species were tallied from the waterbird shack. AMERICAN PIPITS were numerous though and several LAPLAND LONGSPURS also passed over.

The forecast for tomorrow is calling for gusty south winds. We'll see what blows in.

Good Birding,
Cory Gregory
arcticory@gmail.com
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