August 15, 2009

The 2009 count season opened up with very warm conditions (temps in the lower 80's) and sunny skies. Winds were light out of the SE. By the afternoon, haze over the lake made scoping at any distance very difficult.

Waterfowl: The highlight was 65 Red-necked Grebes-- all of which were recorded in the first 3 hours. 2 Common Loons were the only other waterfowl species.

Gulls/Terns: 10 Common Terns flying NE, 1 Caspian Tern, 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, and standard RB and Herring Gulls.

Shorebirds: A decent number including 3 Bairds, 10 Semipalmated, 3 Least Sandpipers, 4 Semipalmated Plovers, and 3 Sanderling.



Other birds: 2 young Northern Goshawks were the highlight. One of them spent a good amount of time circling low over the waterbird shack and beach. 2 Merlin (see photo) hung out at the tip most of the day including one that ate a Red-breasted Nuthatch for breakfast.

Tom Prestby
Waterbird Counter