9 November 2007

Highlights: GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (1), large FALCON sp. (1), RED-THROATED LOON (1)

WEATHER: Winds were light out of the east and southeast most of today and skies were completely cloudy all day long. Temperatures ranged from 4-6 Celsius. Visibility was poor this morning but it eventually cleared somewhat.

OVERALL MOVEMENT: Today was pretty slow, perhaps due to the winds out of the east and southeast. Over 400 migrants were seen total and three species were seen every hour: Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, and Red-necked Grebe. The most numerous species was Long-tailed Duck with about 165 counted.

DUCKS & GEESE: No dabblers were seen today. About 15 Aythya were seen (some were Lesser Scaup). Scoter numbers remained thin; only 4 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 1 BLACK SCOTER were seen. Otherwise, COMMON GOLDENEYE (50+), BUFFLEHEAD (100+), RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (35), and almost 170 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were counted.

LOONS & GREBES: Four COMMON LOONS and 1 RED-THROATED LOON were seen today, all within the first 4 hours of the count. Over 10 RED-NECKED GREBES and a couple HORNED GREBES were also seen.

GULLS: A first-year GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the point during the 4th hour.

RAPTORS: A BALD EAGLE was seen in addition to a large FALCON species. By the time the falcon was seen, it was headed directly away from us and it never turned or banked.

Some of the other species seen from the waterbird shack included SNOW BUNTING, HORNED LARK, COMMON REDPOLL, COMMON RAVEN, PINE GROSBEAK, RED CROSSBILL, HAIRY WOODPECKER, and DOWNY WOODPECKER.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TOMORROW: It should be mostly cloudy, calm winds, and a high near 42.

Thanks for checking in,

Cory Gregory
arcticory@gmail.com