Today was the best day for Loons that we’ve had so far this season. Individuals and trios were continuously flying east throughout the first couple hours of the morning. It was also a decent day for raptors, with a handful of Harriers, Merlins, Sharp-shins and a Peregrine. Strong north winds seemed to be kicking up activity a little bit compared to the past few days, so we had decent diversity overall – UNFORTUNATELY, the most exciting waterbird of the day (and the season thus far) was seen by the hawk count and missed by the waterbird count! Steve Baker spotted a Frigatebird flying south midway through the morning, and birders saw it shortly afterward flying over the bridge. Sadly it never came into range of McGulpin Point.
Canada Goose – 25
Mallard – 2
Common Merganser – 41
duck sp – 30
Common Loon – 52
loon sp – 1
Horned Grebe – 2
Red-necked Grebe – 6
Double-crested Cormorant – 36
Ring-billed Gull – 9
Herring Gull – 4
Other species:
Northern Harrier – 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 3
Bald Eagle – 2
Belted Kingfisher – 1
Merlin – 2
Peregrine Falcon – 1
Blue Jay – 2
Common Raven – 1
Black-capped Chickadee – 4
Tufted Titmouse – 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
Monarch Butterfly – 5
