17 September 2007

Highlights: SABINE'S GULL (1), PARASITIC JAEGER (1)

WEATHER: Moderate winds were out of the south today which brought warmer temperatures (15-22 Celsius) and sunny skies. Visibility was great for the first half of the count but as the temperatures rose, the visibility deteriorated.

DUCKS & GEESE: Besides a lone CANADA GOOSE, some other species seen today included GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, and GREATER SCAUP (10+). A couple WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS also passed by. The resident COMMON MERGANSERS are still being seen every day.

LOONS & GREBES: It was very slow for loons today. Less than 10 COMMON LOONS were seen and only a couple RED-THROATED LOONS came by (and ended up landing offshore). Over 70 RED-NECKED GREBES were counted and a surprising 16 HORNED GREBES were seen as well.

SHOREBIRDS: Six species were counted today. Early on, 10+ SANDERLINGS were seen as well as a lone GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Then in the last two hours, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, and a couple AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were seen resting out at the tip. A rather uncommon visitor to the point, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER also was also feeding along the bay shore.

JAEGERS/GULLS: In the second hour of the count, a juvenile SABINE'S GULL was seen far to the northeast. It circled and fed while slowly moving north before disappearing out of sight. All in all, it was in view for at least 15 minutes. During the last hour of the count, an adult light-morph PARASITIC JAEGER came ripping along the lake shore to harass a gull or two. It was last seen continuing to the SE.

Some other birds seen at the point today included PILEATED WOODPECKER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and NORTHERN HARRIER.

The weather forecast shows rain tonight and then gusty winds out of the south tomorrow.

Good Birding,

Cory Gregory
arcticory@gmail.com
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