7 September 2007

Highlights: JAEGER SP., FORSTER'S TERN, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER

WEATHER: The first three hours were very cloudy/hazy with poor visibility. Once the winds changed from SW to S in the 3rd hour, the rain began. The remainder of the count was plagued by constant rain showers, sometimes extremely heavy. The temperature remained at 21 Celsius the entire count. More or less, the count today was awash.

WATERFOWL: The only migrants were a couple NORTHERN PINTAIL, RED-THROATED LOON (7), and COMMON LOON (10+). A couple resident RED-NECKED GREBES and a HORNED GREBE stayed the day.

SHOREBIRDS: Eight species were seen today although not in huge numbers. Very early this morning on my way out to the shack I flushed a SOLITARY SANDPIPER from the parking lot and then a GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the trail to the shack. Eventually, the rain stopped during the last hour of the count and promptly BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (1), SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER dropped in. Over 40 SANDERLING and a single RUDDY TURNSTONE could be found throughout the day.

JAEGERS/TERNS: During the first hour of the count, a juvenile JAEGER came ripping out from the lake and gave a spectacular show as it chased a Ring-billed Gull for probably nearly a minute. It eventually gave up on that bird and changed targets to a different gull which it chased for another 30 seconds. The jaeger eventually continued southeast. Also, flying with flock of COMMON TERNS was a lone juvenile FORSTER'S TERN which is my first for the fall here.

Other various birds seen from the waterbird shack included CLIFF SWALLOWS (80+), LAPLAND LONGSPUR, CHIMNEY SWIFT, and a NORTHERN HARRIER.

The forecast is calling for strong west winds tonight. We'll see what's around tomorrow!

Good Birding,
Cory Gregory
arcticory@gmail.com
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