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Bird Report
The following birds of note were reported from Erie County, Pa. Snow Goose 1; Nov. 28; Fairview Northern Goshawk 1 imm.; Dec. 3; Thompson Circle, Presque Isle S.P. Rough-legged Hawk 1; Nov. 28; Fairview Snowy Owl 1; through today; Gull Point, Presque Isle S.P. Ruffed Grouse 1; Dec. 17; Thompson Circle, Presque Isle S.P. (CBC) Very rare for the park. Northern Goshawk 1 imm. window strike; Dec. 15; Waterford; The hawk was taken to a rehabilitation center where it is expected to recover. Dunlin 1; Dec. 16 (late); Sunset Point (waterbird count), Presque Isle S.P. Glaucous Gull 1; Dec. 17; foot of east Ave., Erie (CBC) Long-eared Owl 1; Dec. 18; pines on Presque Isle S.P. Eared Grebe 1; Dec. 23; Gull Point Lesser Black-backed Gull 1; Dec. 23; Gull Point Gray Catbird 1; Dec. 23; Gull Point Trail Lapland Longspur 2; Dec. 23; Gull Point Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1; to at least Dec. 18; Harborcreek Common Grackle 9; Dec. 19; ranger's station at Presque Isle S.P. Waterbird Report Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 1, 2016 Time: 0720 to 0850 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 38 F. SW wind to 10 mph, waves 4’. Comments: There was a light westward movement of Lesser Scaup until about 0815. Roger Donn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Lesser Scaup 500 Surf/Black scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 1 Bufflehead 1 Common Goldeneye 2 Red-breasted Merganser 129 Common Loon 5 Horned Grebe 16 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 2, 2016 Time: 0720 to 0920 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 38 F. SW wind to 20 mph, waves 5’. Occasional rain, graupel, and slush mix Comments: There was a good westward movement of Lesser Scaup with many staging off Sunset Point. There was also an eastward movement of three flocks of Long-tailed Ducks. I observed a Peregrine Falcon take down a Bonaparte’s Gull, then plucking it off the water and carrying it to shore chased by Ring-billed Gulls. Roger Donn assisted for most of the watch. Waterbirds recorded: Wood Duck 3 American Wigeon 9 Mallard 3 Canvasback 3 Ring-necked Duck 1 Lesser Scaup 4500 Surf Scoter 1 Black Scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 115 Bufflehead 4 Common Goldeneye 4 Red-breasted Merganser 68 Common Loon 23 Horned Grebe 6 Other bird over the lake: Peregrine Falcon 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 3, 2016 Time: 0715 to 0945 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 42 F. WNW wind to 20 mph, waves 3 to 4’. Comments: There was a lighter, but steady, movement of scaup today and a few more Red-breasted Mergansers than yesterday and a fair number of scoters. Most waterfowl were moving west. Many Common Loons were flying across the lake from Canada high overhead. I had a brief, but stunning, view of an immature Northern Goshawk perched facing me in a tree near the road at Thompson Circle, then it flew off the moment I reached for my camera. Roger Donn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 70 (one flock) Canvasback 4 Redhead 10 Lesser Scaup 1100 Surf Scoter 29 White-winged Scoter 13 Black Scoter 1 Surf/Black scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 44 Bufflehead 1 Common Goldeneye 17 Red-breasted Merganser 328 Red-throated Loon 3 Common Loon 252 Horned Grebe 15 Other birds moving along the lake: Bald Eagle 2 Snow Bunting 15 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 4, 2016 Time: 0725 to 0855 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 37 F. SSW wind to 5 mph, waves less than a foot. Occasional sprinkle. Comments: The heavy cloud cover made for poor visibility. Very light westward movement of ducks. Horned Grebes were moving in both directions. Roger Donn assisted with the count. Scanning Gull Point from Beach 11 I saw a Snowy Owl perched on the railing of the observation deck. Waterbirds recorded: Redhead 13 Lesser Scaup 232 Surf Scoter 3 Surf/Black scoter 4 Long-tailed Duck 2 Common Goldeneye 1 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 2 Red-breasted Merganser 162 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 5 Unidentified loon 3 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Horned Grebe 33 Dunlin 2 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 4, 2016 Time: 0720 to 0920 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 40 F, waves 4’ to 5’ falling to 3’,wind W to 25 mph falling to 15 mph. Comments: Not much different from yesterday. However, four Snow Geese (one blue and three white) flying west just offshore was a treat. Waterbirds recorded: SNOW GOOSE 4 (one blue, three white) Canvasback 1 Lesser Scaup 373 White-winged Scoter 14 Black Scoter 1 Surf/Black scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 8 Common Goldeneye 1 Common Merganser 1 Red-breasted Merganser 220 Red-throated loon 2 Common Loon 22 Unidentified loon 1 Other bird moving along the lake: Bald Eagle 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 6, 2016 Time: 0720 to 0920 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 37 F, waves one foot, E wind to 10 mph. Comments: Most birds were moving west. There was a burst of Red-throated Loons moving with five in one group moving west. At least four were on the water just offshore. I finally managed to pull a single Greater Scaup out of a flock of ten Lesser Scaup. Greater Scaup has been absent most of this fall. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 20 Greater Scaup 1 Lesser Scaup 357 Surf Scoter 7 White-winged Scoter 21 Black Scoter 2 Surf/Black scoter 1 Common Goldeneye 4 Red-breasted Merganser 321 Red-throated Loon 12 Common Loon 19 Horned Grebe 8 Double-crested Cormorant 10 Other bird moving along the lake: Bald Eagle 1 Location: mouth of Walnut Creek, Fairview Twp. Date: December 7, 2016 Time: 0720 to 0920 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 38 F, waves 3’ to 4’, SW wind to 20 mph. Comments: Nearly all birds were moving west. Thousands of Lesser Scaup lifted off the water from the east then flying west a couple of miles or more before settling back down on the water. Highlight was a Forster’s Tern that appeared just offshore and fed near the mouth of the creek before departing. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 16 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 2 Greater Scaup 3 Lesser Scaup 8000 Bufflehead 3 Common Goldeneye 28 Red-breasted Merganser 830 Red-throated Loon 2 Common Loon 3 Unidentified loon 1 Horned Grebe 8 Double-crested Cormorant 1 FORSTER’S TERN 1 (photographed) Other birds moving along the lake: Bald Eagle 3 Location: mouth of Walnut Creek, Fairview Twp. Date: December 8, 2016 Time: 0730 to 0930 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 33 F falling to 28 F, waves 3’ to 4’, W wind to 15 mph. Light snow showers becoming heavy at times. Comments: It appears the Lesser Scaup have moved on, since there were very few flying and none on the water. Red-breasted Merganser numbers improved with a movement of about 1100 eastbound birds at 0850. Most of the other mergansers recorded this morning were moving east as well. Because of the snow showers, visibility became limited towards the end of the count. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 2 American Wigeon 9 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 13 Lesser Scaup 192 Bufflehead 9 Common Goldeneye 9 Hooded Merganser 3 Red-breasted Merganser 2100 Common Loon 1 Location: mouth of Walnut Creek, Fairview Twp. Date: December 9, 2016 Time: 0725 to 1025 Weather: Mostly cloudy, temp. 31 F, waves 4’ to 5’, NW wind to 35 mph. Occasional light snow shower. One to two inches of snow cover on the ground. Comments: The westward waterfowl flight was fairly steady. There was a good mix of waterfowl and most were Redhead, scaup, and Red-breasted Merganser. Two distant flocks of Long-tailed Ducks were moving east, as they usually do. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 30 Gadwall 9 American Black Duck 6 Mallard 27 Northern Shoveler 3 Northern Pintail 3 Canvasback 90 Redhead 445 Greater Scaup 42 Lesser Scaup 40 Unidentified scaup 355 White-winged Scoter 3 Black Scoter 9 Long-tailed Duck 75 Bufflehead 6 Common Goldeneye 30 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 16 Red-breasted Merganser 440 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 149 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Other birds moving along the lake: Bald Eagle 4 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 10, 2016 Time: 0730 to 0900 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 30 F, waves four feet, W wind to 25 mph. Periods of snow squall white outs. Three inches of snow on the ground. Comments: Much quieter on the lake today. Birds were moving west. The large flocks of divers sitting on the lake were not moving. Waterbirds recorded: Canvasback 110 Redhead 18 Greater Scaup 3 Lesser Scaup 70 Unidentified scaup 300 Surf Scoter 6 White-winged Scoter 2 Surf/Black scoter 4 Long-tailed Duck 9 Common Merganser 1 Red-breasted Merganser 221 Common Loon 2 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 11, 2016 Time: 0725 to 0855 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 26 F, waves one to two feet, SW wind to 10 mph. 6” to 8” of snow on the ground. Comments: Except for westbound Red-breasted Mergansers there was little activity over the water. However, species diversity was okay. Thousands of ducks were in Thompson Bay and other inlets, mostly Mallards, Gadwall, American Black Duck, scaup, Redheads, and Canvasbacks. There were many Canada Geese in these areas as well. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 21 Gadwall 15 American Black Duck 22 Mallard 10 Redhead 33 Greater Scaup 5 Lesser Scaup 17 Unidentified scaup 75 Surf Scoter 2 White-winged Scoter 7 Long-tailed Duck 1 Bufflehead 2 Common Goldeneye 9 Hooded Merganser 3 Red-breasted Merganser 2000 Ruddy Duck 4 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 4 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Horned Grebe 3 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 12, 2016 Time: 0740 to 0910 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 36 F, waves four feet, WSW wind to 10 mph. Light rain. Comments: Visibility was poor all morning, but there was little moving anyway. A large flock of scaup lifted off around 0800 and moved west. Roger Donn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 4 Gadwall 3 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 2 Canvasback 102 Ring-necked Duck 1 Lesser Scaup 1 Unidentified scaup 445 White-winged Scoter 1 Bufflehead 5 Common Goldeneye 8 Common Merganser 1 Red-breasted Merganser 26 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 13, 2016 Time: 0725 to 0925 Weather: Variably cloudy becoming cloudy, temp. 26 F, waves two feet, SW wind to 10 mph. Comments: There wasn’t a fixed directional movement for most ducks. Birds were moving both east and west even the same species were splitting up and moving in different directions. Most Red-breasted Mergansers were heading west while most Canvasbacks and Redheads headed east. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 15 Gadwall 9 American Wigeon 2 American Black Duck 9 Mallard 52 Canvasback 128 Redhead 30 Greater Scaup 4 Lesser Scaup 38 Unidentified scaup 40 Black Scoter 1 Bufflehead 1 Common Goldeneye 5 Common Merganser 21 Red-breasted Merganser 1493 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 7 Horned Grebe 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 14, 2016 Time: 0730 to 0930 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 24 F, waves two three, WNW wind to 10 mph becoming SSW to 15 mph. occasional snow flurries. Comments: There was a good westward movement of Redheads with a few Canvasbacks mixed in, but only a few Red-breasted Mergansers moving mainly to the east. Roger Donn assisted for a short while. Waterbirds recorded: American Wigeon 4 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 16 Canvasback 75 Redhead 625 Greater Scaup 6 Lesser Scaup 43 Unidentified scaup 3 Surf Scoter 3 White-winged Scoter 2 Long-tailed Duck 1 Common Goldeneye 20 Common Merganser 8 Red-breasted Merganser 146 Common Loon 4 Horned Grebe 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 15, 2016 Time: 0730 to 0930 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 17 F, waves four to five feet, W wind to 35 mph. There is about 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground Comments: Canvasbacks and Redheads and a few scaup were moving west. The relatively warm Lake Erie water produced strong heat waves, and with poor light many ducks went unidentified. I believe another 1000 or more ducks that I could not ID were Canvasbacks, Redheads, and scaup. At least that many again were resting on the water about a mile or so offshore. Waterbirds recorded: Mallard 2 Canvasback 580 Redhead 275 Greater Scaup 137 Lesser Scaup 77 Unidentified scaup 185 Black Scoter 1 Surf/Black scoter 1 Common Goldeneye 21 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 5 Red-breasted Merganser 159 Common Loon 100 Other bird moving across the lake: Snow Bunting 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 16, 2016 Time: 0735 to 0935 Weather: Mostly cloudy, temp. 15 F, waves two to three feet, SSW wind to 10 mph. occasional light snow showers. Comments: Heat waves over the water was an issue again this morning. Nearly all birds were moving west. Two flocks of Canada Geese came across the lake from Canada. Highlight was a Dunlin flying west along the shoreline. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 90 Gadwall 2 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 5 Canvasback 93 Redhead 40 Greater Scaup 12 Lesser Scaup 14 Unidentified scaup 98 Surf/Black scoter 3 Long-tailed Duck 4 Bufflehead 16 Common Goldeneye 60 Hooded Merganser 5 Common Merganser 20 Red-breasted Merganser 975 Ruddy Duck 1 Common Loon 4 Horned Grebe 10 DUNLIN 1 Other bird moving along the lake: Bald Eagle 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 17, 2016 Time: 0740 to 0840 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 30 F, waves less than a foot, S wind to 5 mph. Light drizzle. Comments: Not much happening on the lake. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 1 Canvasback 7 Ring-necked Duck 8 Greater Scaup 1 Lesser Scaup 27 Long-tailed Duck 8 White-winged Scoter 2 Bufflehead 2 Common Goldeneye 5 Hooded Merganser 1 Common Merganser 25 Red-breasted Merganser 140 Ruddy Duck 8 Common Loon 4 Horned Grebe 3 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 18, 2016 Time: 0745 to 0915 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 32 F, waves 3’ to 4’, NW wind to 30 mph. Comments: The few birds flying were heading west. Waterbirds recorded: Redhead 5 Greater Scaup 29 Lesser Scaup 21 Unidentified scaup 36 White-winged Scoter 2 Bufflehead 4 Common Goldeneye 1 Common Merganser 4 Red-breasted Merganser 86 Ruddy Duck 1 Common Loon 1 American Coot 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 19, 2016 Time: 0730 to 0800 Weather: Cloudy, heavy snow showers, temp. 20 F, waves less than a foot, light S wind. Five inches of new snow cover on the ground. Snow falling at two inches per hour. Comments: White-out conditions prevented me from seeing more than a hundred yards. I gave it up after 30 minutes. Waterbirds recorded: Bufflehead 1 Common Goldeneye 3 Red-breasted Merganser 7 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 20, 2016 Time: 0730 to 0900 Weather: Mostly clear becoming variably cloudy, temp. 18 F, wind S to 10 mph, waves two feet. Comments: Light movement. There were large rafts of ducks sitting on the water well offshore that were a mix of Canvasback and scaup. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 3 Mallard 8 Canvasback 50 Ring-necked Duck 8 Lesser Scaup 1 Unidentified scaup 14 Surf Scoter 2 White-winged Scoter 2 Black Scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 3 Bufflehead 9 Common Goldeneye 13 Common Merganser 29 Red-breasted Merganser 123 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 21, 2016 Time: 0730 to 0930 Weather: Mostly cloudy, temp. 28 F, SW wind to 10 mph, waves 4 feet. Comments: Steady by light movement with birds flying in all direction except red-breasted Mergansers which were mostly going east. The large rafts of ducks are still present well offshore. Roger Donn, Jim and Jacob Flynn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 5 American Black Duck 8 Canvasback 130 Ring-necked Duck 20 Greater Scaup 26 Lesser Scaup 115 Unidentified scaup 58 White-winged Scoter 19 Long-tailed Duck 8 Bufflehead 6 Common Goldeneye 34 Common Merganser 15 Red-breasted Merganser 204 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 1 Horned Grebe 4 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 22, 2016 Time: 0745 to 0915 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 37 F, W wind to 15 mph, waves 4 feet. Comments: Little movement with Red-breasted Mergansers moving east while most of everything else moving west. The rafts of ducks are still present offshore including a mixed raft of 30 or more American Black Ducks, 30 or more Ring-necked Ducks, and 15 or so Redheads. Waterbirds recorded: Gadwall 2 American Wigeon 1 American Black Duck 2 Canvasback 200 (mostly in one flock) Redhead 12 Ring-necked Duck 4 Greater Scaup 39 Lesser Scaup 57 Unidentified scaup 18 Bufflehead 6 Common Goldeneye 17 Red-breasted Merganser 120 Common Loon 2 Horned Grebe 2 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 22, 2016 Time: 0745 to 0915 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 37 F, W wind to 15 mph, waves 4 feet. Comments: Little movement with Red-breasted Mergansers moving east while most of everything else moving west. The rafts of ducks are still present offshore including a mixed raft of 30 or more American Black Ducks, 30 or more Ring-necked Ducks, and 15 or so Redheads. Waterbirds recorded: Gadwall 2 American Wigeon 1 American Black Duck 2 Canvasback 200 (mostly in one flock) Redhead 12 Ring-necked Duck 4 Greater Scaup 39 Lesser Scaup 57 Unidentified scaup 18 Bufflehead 6 Common Goldeneye 17 Red-breasted Merganser 120 Common Loon 2 Horned Grebe 2 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 23, 2016 Time: 0735 to 0935 Weather: Variably cloudy, temp. 32 F, SSW wind to 10 mph, waves 2 feet. Comments: Some westward movement, mainly from the rafts of ducks offshore being moved by duck hunters. Jim and Jacob Flynn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 2 Canvasback 500 Redhead 86 Ring-necked Duck 6 Greater Scaup 15 Lesser Scaup 510 Unidentified scaup 125 Surf Scoter 1 White-winged Scoter 2 Black Scoter 1 Bufflehead 1 Common Goldeneye 23 Common Merganser 24 Red-breasted Merganser 430 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 1 Horned Grebe 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 24, 2016 Time: 0750 to 0920 Weather: Cloudy, light rain showers, temp. 40 F, SSW wind to 5 mph, waves less than a foot becoming two feet. Comments: Mostly ducks from the offshore rafts moving around. Sam Stull and Scott Goring assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 14 Canvasback 164 Redhead 140 Ring-necked Duck 8 Greater Scaup 4 Lesser Scaup 94 Unidentified scaup 332 White-winged Scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 1 Common Goldeneye 19 Red-breasted Merganser 32 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 29, 2016 Time: 0750 to 0920 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 37 F, W wind to 5 to 10 mph, waves less than a foot becoming two feet. Comments: Just a few westward moving birds. Waterbirds recorded: Canvasback 62 Redhead 13 Greater Scaup 6 Lesser Scaup 50 Unidentified scaup 10 Common Goldeneye 2 Red-breasted Merganser 62 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 29, 2016 Time: 0745 to 0945 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 33 F, NW wind to 25 mph, onshore waves four feet. Comments: There was a rather steady flow of westbound Common Loons for this late in the season. Also more waterfowl than yesterday, with nearly all birds in a westward direction. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 1 Canada Goose 5 Mallard 1 Canvasback 11 Redhead 13 Ring-necked Duck 1 Greater Scaup 7 Lesser Scaup 126 Unidentified scaup 30 White-winged Scoter 7 Long-tailed Duck 15 Common Goldeneye 23 Common Merganser 2 Red-breasted Merganser 126 Red-throated Loon 2 Common Loon 276 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: December 31, 2016 Time: 0735 to 0905 Weather: Hazy sun, temp. 33 F, SSW wind to 15 mph, onshore waves one to two feet. Comments: Much quieter on the lake today with absolutely no loons moving. Waterbirds recorded: Tundra Swan 4 Canvasback 18 Redhead 10 Ring-necked Duck 4 Lesser Scaup 37 Greater Scaup 5 White-winged Scoter 2 Long-tailed Duck 2 Common Goldeneye 16 Common Merganser 2 Red-breasted Merganser 160 Horned Grebe 1 Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. Bird Report
The following birds of note were reported from Presque Isle S.P., Pa. Purple Sandpiper 2; Sunset Point Snowy Owl 1 or 2; Nov. 22 & 27 Waterbird Report Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 1, 2016 Time: 0740 to 0910 Weather: Mostly clear, temp. 46 F, S wind to 15 mph, onshore waves calm. Comments: Except for Common Loons and Horned Grebes moving east, most of everything else was moving in all directions. Roger Donn, and Park environmental educators Brian Gula and Stacy, assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 2 Tundra Swan 3 Gadwall 7 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 2 Green-winged Teal 1 Lesser Scaup 27 Surf Scoter 1 White-winged Scoter 4 Black Scoter 2 Surf/Black scoter 7 Bufflehead 2 Common Goldeneye 7 Red-breasted Merganser 42 Common Loon 22 Horned Grebe 8 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Other birds moving over or along the lake: Cooper’s Hawk 1 Bald Eagle 1 Snow Bunting 7 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Sparrow species 1 Red-winged Blackbird 8 Passerine 3 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 2, 2016 Time: 0740 to 0910 Weather: Variably cloudy, temp. 60 F, calm wind, calm lake. Comments: A few Lesser Scaup were moving west and two flocks of Pine Siskins passed overhead going east. Waterbirds recorded: Mallard 1 Green-winged Teal 7 Lesser Scaup 343 Surf Scoter 2 White-winged Scoter 1 Bufflehead 5 Common Goldeneye 3 Red-breasted Merganser 42 Common Loon 1 Horned Grebe 8 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Other birds moving along the lake: European Starling 5 Pine Siskin 45 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 4, 2016 Time: 0745 to 1015 Weather: Partly cloudy, temp. 48 F. N wind to 10 mph, waves 2’. Comments: There was a nice movement of Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail moving west. Diving duck numbers were fair with most birds being west bound Red-breasted Merganser and Lesser Scaup. A Wilson’s Snipe flying west at first light was a surprise. First Red-throated Loon of the season moving west. Waterbirds recorded: American Wigeon 27 American Black Duck 12 Mallard 16 Northern Pintail 57 Green-winged Teal 119 Lesser Scaup 136 Surf Scoter 22 White-winged Scoter 7 Bufflehead 11 Common Goldeneye 31 Common Merganser 1 Red-breasted Merganser 252 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 15 Horned Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 35 Wilson's Snipe 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 23, 2016 Time: 0705 to 0905 Weather: Variably cloudy, temp. 32 F. Light N wind , waves less than one foot. Comments: Light movement of scaup and Red-breasted Merganser moving west with a staging flock of several hundred scaup far offshore. Waterbirds counted; Lesser Scaup 44 Surf Scoter 1 Surf/Black scoter 2 White-winged Scoter 6 Bufflehead 10 Common Goldeneye 9 Hooded Merganser 1 Red-breasted Merganser 161 Red-throated Loon 2 Common Loon 11 Horned Grebe 12 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Other birds moving along the lake: Horned Lark 2 European Starling 8 Snow Bunting 2 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 24, 2016 Time: 0705 to 0805 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 42 F. S wind to 15 mph, light to moderate rain showers. Waves less than one foot. Comments: There was a light west movement of Lesser Scaup the first 15 minutes of the watch. All Red-breasted Mergansers and Horned Grebes were moving east. Movement stopped when it started to rain around 0630. Roger Donn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Canvasback 1 Redhead 6 Lesser Scaup 677 Black Scoter 2 Bufflehead 1 Common Goldeneye 2 Red-breasted Merganser 90 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 2 Horned Grebe 20 Other bird moving along the lake: Snow Bunting 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 25, 2016 Time: 0710 to 0840 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 42 F. W wind to 5 mph, light to moderate rain showers. Waves two feet. Comments: Low waterfowl diversity, but there was a decent westward movement of Lesser Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser. Roger Donn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Lesser Scaup 1725 Long-tailed Duck 1 Common Goldeneye 5 Red-breasted Merganser 5385 Common Loon 4 Double-crested Cormorant 29 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 26, 2016 Time: 0715 to 0915 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 37 F. W wind to 10 mph, light to moderate rain and sleet early on. Waves two feet. Comments: There was a light westward movement of Lesser Scaup and Red-breasted Mergansers. A few Common Loons were moving west as well. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 4 Lesser Scaup 423 Black Scoter 1 Red-breasted Merganser 617 Common Loon 18 Unidentified loon 1 Horned Grebe 1 Other bird moving along the lake: Bald Eagle 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 27, 2016 Time: 0712 to 0912 Weather: Cloudy, temp. 43 F. W wind to 10 mph, waves two to three feet. Comments: There was a westward movement of Lesser Scaup that settled down off Sunset Point. Only a light westbound movement of Red-breasted Mergansers. Waterbirds recorded: Canvasback 10 Lesser Scaup 1392 Surf Scoter 6 White-winged Scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 1 Bufflehead 3 Red-breasted Merganser 345 Ruddy Duck 1 Red-throated Loon 3 Common Loon 6 Horned Grebe 4 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 28, 2016 Time: 0710 to 0910 Weather: Clear becoming mostly cloudy, temp. 36 F. light SSE, lake calm. Comments: Small groups of Lesser Scaup moving west and staging a mile or so offshore, and small groups of Red-breasted Mergansers moving mainly east. Scoters moving west and single Horned Grebes moving east. Roger Donn and Russ States assisted with the count and Roger helped yesterday as well. Waterbirds recorded: Lesser Scaup 320 Surf Scoter 3 White-winged Scoter 17 Red-breasted Merganser 244 Red-throated Loon 2 Common Loon 6 Unidentified loon 2 Horned Grebe 19 Other birds moving along the lake: Bald Eagle 2 Snow Bunting 3 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: November 29, 2016 Time: 0720 to 0820 Weather: Variably cloudy, temp. 51 F. S wind to 15 mph, onshore lake calm. Comments: Pretty quiet as expected. Roger Donn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Lesser Scaup 131 Black Scoter 1 Red-breasted Merganser 53 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 3 Unidentified loon 1 Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. |
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