12 November 2007

Highlights: BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (1 adult!), SHARP-TAILED GROUSE (1)

WEATHER: Winds this morning were moderate out of the southwest but they later shifted (and strengthened) to out the northwest. The count started with a thick bank of fog offshore but that burned off during the 4th hour. Skies remained cloudy or mostly cloudy the rest of the day. The temperature was rather steady, ranging only from 8-9 Celsius. The slightly warmer temperatures actually improved visibility dramatically.

OVERALL MOVEMENT: Compared to yesterday, today was pretty active! Although nothing staggering, Bufflehead had a good flight during the first couple hours. Over 260 migrants were seen total. Only one species was seen every hour: Red-necked Grebe. The most numerous species was Bufflehead with 104 counted.

DUCKS & GEESE: The only dabblers seen today were 2 MALLARDS. Seen 4 different hours, a total of 10 SCAUP passed by. Over 5 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS passed by along with 9 BLACK SCOTERS. Otherwise, COMMON GOLDENEYE (19), BUFFLEHEAD (104), and 27 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were counted. Over 10 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen while only a couple COMMON MERGANSERS were tallied.

LOONS & GREBES: Four COMMON LOONS passed by while over 35 RED-NECKED GREBES were counted. Their highest hour, the 8th, came along with the newly shifted winds out of the NW.

GULLS: A lone BONAPARTE'S GULL was seen in the second hour. The highlight of the day came in the 6th hour when an adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen! This is the second time this season that a rare adult has been seen at the point! It was seen well as it flew little off the tip before it eventually headed south.

RAPTORS: A few hawks got up later in the count, most likely a product of the southwest winds we had earlier today. Species seen included BALD EAGLE (1), RED-TAILED HAWK (2), ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (1), and NORTHERN GOSHAWK (1 juvenile).

Some of the other species seen from the waterbird shack included SHARP-TAILED GROUSE (1), PINE GROSBEAK, BOHEMIAN WAXWING (20+), SNOW BUNTING, COMMON REDPOLL, COMMON RAVEN, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TOMORROW: Believe it or not, sunny skies are forecasted for tomorrow! It should be breezy with a high temperature near 51 F.

Thanks for checking in,

Cory Gregory
arcticory@gmail.com