RSS Feed
|
Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 1, 2015 Time: 0710 to 0910 Weather: Mostly cloudy, NE wind to 30 mph, temp. 53 F, waves 4’ to 5’ Comments: Low numbers, but better diversity this morning. First Surf Scoters of the year as an adult male and a female flew east past the point. Two immature Northern Harriers flew in from Canada. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 19 American Black Duck 2 Green-winged Teal 10 Lesser Scaup 6 Surf Scoter 2 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Common Loon 2 Double-crested Cormorant 230 Great Blue Heron 1 Sanderling 2 Other birds moving along or across the lake: Northern Harrrier 2 imm. Bald Eagle 1 adult Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 2, 2015 Time: 0715 to 0845 Weather: Cloudy, ENE wind to 35 mph, temp. 49 F, waves 4’ to 5’ Comments: The strong ENE wind continues for the third day, which isn't the best wind direction for bird movement, so it was very slow. A few cormorants were flying across the lake from Canada. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 1 Lesser Scaup 11 Surf Scoter 2 Common Loon 6 Double-crested Cormorant 190 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 5, 2015 Time: 0700 to 0800 Weather: Variably cloudy, calm E wind, temp. 52 F, waves less than a foot Comments: Calm conditions did little to bring in birds. Exceptionally slow with only two ducks. Waterbirds recorded: Mallard 1 Northern Pintail 1 Horned Grebe 2 Double-crested Cormorant 50 Other birds moving across the lake: Brown Creeper 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Small Passerine 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 6, 2015 Time: 0710 to 0840 Weather: Cloudy, wind calm, temp. 53 F, waves less than a foot Comments: Calm conditions. A large number of cormorants gathered in one large flock on the water before moving west. Highlight was the four Surf Scoters that were all adult males. Waterbirds recorded: Gadwall 2 Surf Scoter 4 males Horned Grebe 10 Double-crested Cormorant 1330 Sanderling 14 Other bird moving across the lake: Winter Wren 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 7, 2015 Time: 0715 to 0945 Weather: Variably cloudy, NNW wind to 5 mph, temp. 58 F, waves about a foot Comments: A NNW wind moved a few birds this morning, especially Lesser Scaup, Horned Grebes, Bonaparte's Gulls, and Common Terns. A mystery bird passed the point moving east far offshore that was shaped like, and about the same size as a golden plover, that was dark on the upperside and white below. It made a sharp turn around like it was going to land on the water and then continued on. Mark Vass assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 3 American Wigeon 4 Northern Shoveler 1 Lesser Scaup 31 Surf Scoter 2 White-winged Scoter 4 Common Loon 5 Horned Grebe 28 Double-crested Cormorant 14 Common Tern 109 Sanderling 8 Other bird flying across the lake: Bald Eagle 1 adult Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 8, 2015 Time: 0710 to 0840 Weather: Mostly clear, wind light & variable, temp. 48 F, waves about a foot Comments: Pretty quiet on the lake front, but a bit of variety. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 10 Northern Pintail 4 Lesser Scaup 7 Surf/Black scoter 3 Common Merganser 1 Red-breasted Merganser 3 Ruddy Duck 9 Common Loon 2 Horned Grebe 5 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Other bird flying across the lake: Kinglet species 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 9, 2015 Time: 0720 to 0850 Weather: Cloudy, light to moderate rain showers, wind W to 5 mph, temp. 64 F, waves 2 feet Comments: Little movement with most flybys being Lesser Scaup. Waterbirds counted: Wood Duck 1 Mallard 2 Northern Pintail 6 Unidentified teal 3 Lesser Scaup 38 White-winged Scoter 1 Common Loon 4 Black-bellied Plover 2 Other birds moving along or across the lake: Bald Eagle 1 adult Barn Swallow 2 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 10, 2015 Time: 0720 to 0920 Weather: Variably cloudy, wind light and variable, temp. 46 F, waves one foot Comments; A few birds moving, but most were far offshore. Rich and Theresa Wood assisted with the count. Waterbirds recored: Canada Goose 10 Green-winged Teal 4 Ring-necked Duck 15 Lesser Scaup 22 Surf Scoter 1 White-winged Scoter 1 Common Merganser 1 Red-breasted Merganser 5 Common Loon 2 Horned Grebe 6 Double-crested Cormorant 38 Sanderling 1 Dunlin 1 Common Tern 2 Other birds moving across the lake: unidentified kinglet 2 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 13, 2015 Time: 0720 to 0920 Weather: Variably cloudy becoming cloudy, SW wind to 5 mph, temp. 61 F, waves 2 to 3 feet, light to moderate rain showers, two waterspouts and a double rainbow. Comments: A light movement of puddle ducks and Lesser Scaup, mostly moving west. Waterbirds recorded: Gadwall 8 American Wigeon 8 Mallard 1 Northern Shoveler 1 Northern Pintail 8 Green-winged Teal 3 Lesser Scaup 84 Red-breasted Merganser 2 Common Loon 7 Double-crested Cormorant 4 Sanderling 8 Other bird moving across the lake: Small Passerine 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 14, 2015 Time: 0720 to 0920 Weather: Cloudy, W wind to 15 mph, temp. 55 F, waves 3 feet. Comments: All birds were moving west. Highlight was the first-of-the-season Red-necked Grebe moving west. Waterbirds recorded: Wood Duck 8 American Wigeon 22 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 6 Northern Pintail 1 Green-winged Teal 1 Lesser Scaup 139 Surf Scoter 11 White-winged Scoter 3 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Ruddy Duck 13 Common Loon 5 Horned Grebe 3 RED-NECKED GREBE 1 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Other birds moving over the lake: Bald Eagle 2 adults Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 15, 2015 Time: 0715 to 0915 Weather: Mostly clear becoming mostly cloudy with sprinkles, SW wind to 5 mph, temp. 46 F, waves 2 to 3 feet. Comments: Most birds were moving west. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 7 Gadwall 10 American Wigeon 6 American Black Duck 2 Mallard 1 Northern Shoveler 1 Green-winged teal 2 Unidentified Teal 9 Ring-necked Duck 3 Lesser Scaup 122 Surf Scoter 3 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Ruddy Duck 5 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 10 Other birds moving across the lake: Peregrine Falcon 1 Unidentified kinglet 4 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 16, 2015 Time: 0715 to 0915 Weather: Mostly cloudy, NW wind to 10 mph, temp. 53 F, waves 3 feet. Comments: Lesser Scaup numbers are increasing daily, but it was relatively slower overall today than yesterday. Nearly all birds were moving west. Roger Donn assisted with the count for the second hour. Waterbirds counted: Gadwall 31 Northern Pintail 4 Lesser Scaup 311 Surf Scoter 1 White-winged Scoter 1 Red-breasted Merganser 6 Ruddy Duck 5 Common Loon 10 Horned Grebe 3 Double-crested Cormorant 40 Common Tern 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 17, 2015 Time: 0720 to 0950 Weather: Variably cloudy, N wind to 15 mph, temp. 43 F, waves 3 feet. Comments: A nice species diversity, with a modest movement of birds mostly moving west. Many distant waterfowl could not be identified because of heat waves over the water. Roger Donn assisted for a short time during the second hour. Waterbirds counted: Canada Goose 21 Gadwall 7 American Wigeon 26 American Black Duck 6 Mallard 8 Northern pintail 14 Green-winged Teal 2 Ring-necked Duck 4 Lesser Scaup 223 Surf Scoter 4 White-winged Scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 2 Red-breasted Merganser 29 Ruddy Duck 1 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 7 Unidentified loon 1 Double-crested Cormorant 23 Sanderling 39 Dunlin 3 Unidentified Calidris 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Other birds moving along the lake; Turkey Vulture 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 18, 2015 Time: 0720 to 1050 Weather: Mostly cloudy, NW wind to 25 mph, temp. 43 F, occasional rain and graupel showers, waves 4 to 5 feet. Comments: A good mix of waterfowl with 17 species recorded. There was a fairly steady movement of puddle ducks all moving west until about 0940 when the flight shut down. Highlight was an American Golden Plover flying west with a Black-bellied Plover and four Dunlin. Waterbirds recorded: Canada Goose 3 Gadwall 13 American Wigeon 16 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 11 Northern Pintail 54 Green-winged Teal 9 Redhead 34 Ring-necked Duck 2 Lesser Scaup 62 Surf Scoter 32 White-winged Scoter 9 Long-tailed Duck 1 Bufflehead 2 Common Merganser 1 Red-breasted Merganser 6 Ruddy Duck 29 Common Loon 3 Double-crested Cormorant 7 Black-bellied Plover 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER 1 Dunlin 20 Other birds flying along or over the lake: Bald Eagle 1 imm. Peregrine Falcon 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 19, 2015 Time: 0720 to 0920 Weather: Clear, light S wind, calm waves, temp. 38 F As expected, a slow day compared to the last couple of days. There were many Horned Grebes on the water, which must have arrived last night, but few of them moving this morning. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 1 Mallard 2 Green-winged Teal 1 Lesser Scaup 44 Surf Scoter 3 Red-breasted Merganser 7 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 8 Horned Grebe 6 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Other bird moving across the lake: American Robin 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 20, 2015 Time: 0725 to 0925 Weather: Variably clear, SW wind to 15 mph, waves 3 to five feet, temp. 56 F Comments: Waterfowl movement was slow. Common Loons were flying in all directions. Bonaparte's Gulls were Everywhere today with an estimated 600 seen, mostly before sunrise. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 4 Mallard 1 Lesser Scaup 8 Surf Scoter 3 Red-breasted Merganser 27 Ruddy Duck 1 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 18 Horned Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Dunlin 1 Other birds flying over or along the lake: Bald Eagle 1 Merlin 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 21, 2015 Time: 0725 to 0855 Weather: Variably cloudy, light south wind, waves one foot, temp. 55 F Comments: Very little movement other than what the boats disturbed. There was a light movement of Bonaparte's Gulls around 0730 with an adult Little Gull among them. Roger Donn stopped for a few minutes. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 6 Mallard 12 Lesser Scaup 4 Red-breasted Merganser 11 Red-throated Loon 2 Common Loon 15 Horned Grebe 36 Double-crested Cormorant 78 Dunlin 12 LITTLE GULL 1 adult Common Tern 2 Other bird moving across the lake: Unidentified kinglet Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 22, 2015 Time: 0730 to 0900 Weather: Cloudy, wind SW to 10 mph, waves two to three feet, temp. 64 F Comments: Not much change from yesterday. Waterbirds recorded: Gadwall 3 American Wigeon 5 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 6 Green-winged Teal 13 (one flock) Lesser Scaup 18 Surf Scoter 4 Long-tailed Duck 1 Bufflehead 1 Red-breasted Merganser 8 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 8 Horned Grebe 5 Common Tern 2 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 23, 2015 Time: 0725 to 0925 Weather: Variably cloudy becoming clear, wind NE to 20 mph, waves three to four feet, temp. 48 F Comments: It picked up a little from the last couple of days, but still relatively light. Cormorants were moving across the lake from Canada and at least 50% of the waterfowl were moving east. Highlight was a Red-necked Grebe moving east. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 16 Mallard 14 Green-winged Teal 21 Lesser Scaup 33 Surf Scoter 5 White-winged Scoter 8 Bufflehead 1 Red-breasted Merganser 45 Red-throated Loon 3 Common Loon 10 Red-necked Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 400 Black-bellied Plover 2 Dunlin 7 Common Tern 1 Other bird moving over the lake: Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 24, 2015 Time: 0730 to 1000 Weather: Cloudy, wind E to 15 mph, waves less than a foot, temp. 55 F Comments: Very little waterfowl movement. There was a good flight of Common Loons moving mostly to the west. Best sightings were a Red-necked Grebe and an adult Little Gull. Waterbirds recorded: Wood Duck 8 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 3 Lesser Scaup 7 Surf Scoter 4 White-winged Scoter 9 Common Goldeneye 1 Red-breasted Merganser 35 Common Loon 364 Horned Grebe 22 RED-NECKED GREBE 1 Double-crested Cormorant 3 LITTLE GULL 1 adult Common Tern 1 Other birds moving across the lake: Merlin 1 Unidentified kinglet 1 Passerine 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 25, 2015 Time: 0735 to 1005 Weather: Cloudy, wind WNW to 20 mph, waves three to four feet, temp. 53 F Comments: Despite the WNW wind there wasn't as much as expected. Most birds were moving west. Michael David and Roger Donn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Wood Duck 1 Gadwall 2 American Black Duck 6 Mallard 2 Northern Pintail 9 Greater Scaup 3 Lesser Scaup 73 Surf Scoter 6 White-winged Scoter 11 Long-tailed Duck 1 Bufflehead 3 Common Goldeneye 2 Red-breasted Merganser 68 Red-throated Loon 3 Common Loon 29 Horned Grebe 1 Black-bellied Plover 3 Other bird flying along the lake: Peregrine Falcon 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 26, 2015 Time: 0725 to 0925 Weather: Mostly clear, wind light ESE, waves one foot, temp. 38 F Comments: Little change from the last few days, except there was a light movement of Red-breasted Mergansers moving west. Highlight was Red-necked Grebe moving NE. Waterbirds recorded: Mallard 28 Northern Pintail 1 Redhead 1 Greater Scaup 1 Lesser Scaup 14 Surf Scoter 1 White-winged Scoter 2 Long-tailed Duck 1 Bufflehead 2 Common Goldeneye 2 Red-breasted Merganser 154 Red-throated loon 6 Common Loon 10 Horned Grebe 10 RED-NECKED GREBE 1 Double-crested Cormorant 25 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 27, 2015 Time: 0735 to 0905 Weather: Variably cloudy, wind ESE to 5 mph, waves one foot, temp. 42 F Comments: A very slow morning. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 5 Mallard 4 Green-winged Teal 1 Lesser Scaup 45 Surf Scoter 9 White-winged Scoter 4 Bufflehead 4 Common Goldeneye 1 Red-breasted Merganser 20 Red-throated Loon 4 Common Loon 8 Horned Grebe 21 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 28, 2015 Time: 0740 to 0940 Weather: Cloudy, wind SE to 40 mph, light to moderate rain showers, waves one to two feet, temp. 51 F Comments: The strong SE wind associated with Patricia did little to move birds along the south shore of Lake Erie. The slowest day this month. The park closed because of high winds and down trees while Roger Donn and I were conducting the count. Waterbirds recorded: American Black Duck 3 Mallard 18 American Black Duck X Mallard 1 Ring-necked Duck 4 White-winged Scoter 2 Bufflehead 2 Red-breasted Merganser 2 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 7 Black-bellied Plover 1 Other bird moving along the lake: Horned Lark 1 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 29, 2015 Time: 0735 to 0935 Weather: Cloudy, wind SW to 30 mph, temp. 48 F., waves six to seven feet. Comments: Still not many ducks, but more movement than yesterday. Highlight was an adult Little Gull moving west and an immature Parasitic Jaeger (at 0815) moving east. At one point the jaeger took chase to a group of Black-bellied Plovers. Roger Donn assisted with the count during the second hour. Waterbirds recorded: Gadwall 18 Canvasback 1 Redhead 2 Lesser Scaup 23 Surf Scoter 4 Common Goldeneye 4 Red-breasted Merganser 37 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 33 Unidentified loon 7 Horned Grebe 10 Black-bellied Plover 11 Dunlin 1 LITTLE GULL 1 adult PARASITIC JAEGER 1 immature Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 30, 2015 Time: 0735 to 1035 Weather: Cloudy, light rain part of the time, wind WNW to 20 mph, temp. 48 F., waves four to five feet early. Comments: The WNW wind moved a few waterfowl this morning, especially Lesser Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser with nearly all moving west. Highlights were two Red-necked Grebes moving west and an immature Parasitic Jaeger moving west. Geoff Malosh assisted with the count. Roger Donn and Brian Berchtold stopped for a few minutes. Waterbirds recorded: Mallard 4 Northern Shoveler 1 Northern Pintail 13 Lesser Scaup 382 Surf Scoter 22 White-winged Scoter 20 Long-tailed Duck 3 Bufflehead 11 Common Goldeneye 2 Red-breasted Merganser 425 Red-throated Loon 1 Common Loon 35 Horned Grebe 19 RED-NECKED GREBE 2 Black-bellied Plover 1 PARASITIC JAEGER 1 immature at 0950 Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park Date: October 31, 2015 Time: 0735 to 1005 Weather: Variably cloudy with a hazy sky, wind light SW, temp. 45 F., nearly calm onshore. Comments: Not many ducks, but a strong and steady movement of Common Loons moving low over the water mostly to the east. The loon flight time was about 0810 to 0945. Roger Donn assisted with the count. Waterbirds recorded: Gadwall 1 American Black Duck 9 Mallard 12 Lesser Scaup 29 Surf Scoter 6 White-winged Scoter 18 Bufflehead 6 Common Goldeneye 1 Hooded Merganser 2 Red-breasted Merganser 51 Common Loon 1400 Horned Grebe 18 Black-bellied Plover 5 Other birds moving over or along the lake: Snow Bunting 2 Pine Siskin 26 Small Passerine 1 Comments are closed.
|
Bird Gallery
|