It was a breezy, but sunny day today at McGulpin. Duck activity was quiet for most of the day, until a flock of about a thousand birds flew west from near the north end of the bridge in the afternoon. Loons moved throughout the morning, including a couple of Red-throats, and White-winged Scoters were flying west in small flocks throughout the day as well.
Two large flocks of Sandhill Cranes came across in the early afternoon, which was the first time I’ve seen large numbers moving so far this season. It was also a decent day for vulture movement, though there were few other hawks moving that I saw.
Redhead – 400
White-winged Scoter – 24
Hooded Merganser – 1
Duck sp. – 1375
Red-throated Loon – 2
Common Loon – 10
Loon sp. – 4
Horned Grebe – 3
Red-necked Grebe – 2
Double-crested Cormorant – 22
Ring-billed Gull – 12
Herring Gull – 9
Other species:
Turkey Vulture – 58
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1
Bald Eagle – 3
Sandhill Crane – 160
Blue-headed Vireo – 1
American Crow – 4
Black-capped Chickadee – 10
Tufted Titmouse – 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
American Pipit – 1
Monarch Butterfly – 4
