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Author: Peter Kasper
Sunday, March 30
Large numbers of
Lesser Scaup and
Ruddy Ducks were to be
found on Main Ring Lake and the Main Injector moats today,
however, the only unusual waterbird was a
Horned Grebe on
A.E.Sea. There were also a few new arrivals recorded today,
including
Pied-billed Grebe,
Rusty Blackbird, and several
Eastern Phoebes. We also heard
Wilson's Snipes doing their
winnowing display flight.
Sunday, March 23
Waterfowl were once again the main attraction at the lab
today. Highlights were a
Common Loon and a
Horned Grebe on
Lake Law and a
Greater Scaup and
Red-breasted Mergansers on
Casey's pond.
Buffleheads and
Canvasbacks were unusually
common today, but there was little in the way of dabbling
ducks. Other birds of note were a
Turkey Vulture and two
Red-breasted Nuthatches in the village, several
American Crows in the Bison
Savannah, and the first
Brown-headed cowbirds of the year.
Sunday, March 16
Waterfowl migration is still going strong, though it seems
most of the geese have already passed through. Other changes
noted today were a marked increase in the numbers of
Lesser Scaups and
Canvasbacks, increased numbers of
Green-winged Teal, and a drop in the number of
Common Goldeneyes. Two
Red-breasted Mergansers and lots of
Northern Shovelers also
showed up for the first time this year on Main Ring Lake. I
also finally managed to find the
Mute Swan that has been
reported from various parts of the site over the last week
and a half.
Sunday, March 9
It was bitterly cold today, but that didn't deter several
groups of birders from searching the site for migrating
waterfowl. The best finds included the 16
Ross's Geese that
have been seen regularly over the past few days in either
the Bison field or the horse pasture, at least 200
Greater White-fronted Geese on Main Ring Lake, and a
Greater Scaup on the Main Injector moat. Also of note were unusually large
numbers of
Redheads and a couple of
Northern Shrikes. Aprat from the species already mentioned the waterfowl list
consisted of
Canada Geese,
Cackling Geese,
Mallard,
American Black Duck,
Gadwall,
American Wigeon,
Northern Pintail,
Canvasback,
Ring-necked Duck,
Lesser Scaup,
Bufflehead,
Common Goldeneye,
Common Merganser, and
Hooded Merganser.
Thursday, March 6
Despite the cold weather spring migration continues to
advance.
Common Grackles and
Eastern Meadowlarks have
arrived on site and waterfowl numbers are still increasing.
Greater White-fronted Geese are here in good numbers and a
flock of 16
Ross's Geese have appeared in the Swenson rd.
horse pasture. Two
Mute Swans were also reported from Main Ring Lake.
Sunday, March 2
Despite the layer of snow it really felt like Spring today.
Newly arrived
Red-winged Blackbirds and
Killdeers were seen
and heard throughout the site and
American Robins and
Eastern Bluebirds were also present in larger numbers.
Waterfowl migration has clearly started as evidenced by a
big increase in
Canada Geese, and the arrival of
Greater White-fronted Geese (20 or more on Main Ring Lake),
Wood Duck,
Northern Shoveler,
Bufflehead, and
Ruddy Duck.
Cackling Geese and
Ring-necked Ducks had also increased
their numbers on sight and
Redheads were still present on
the Main Injector moat.
Sandhill Cranes were also seen later in the morning.
However, the best finds for the day were several
Rough-legged Hawks, a flyover
Snow Bunting, and a
Thayer's Gull on Main Ring Lake.
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