With the temperature and wind speed rising throughout the day, and the inclement weather passed, the birds seem to be back in force. In addition, with the clearing clouds, lack of fog, rain, and/or snow, it’s back to being able to see over ten miles. There was a good number and diversity of birds moving through the strait, including the first Broad-winged Hawks by the lakeside. Spotting loafing waterbirds became increasingly difficult in the later hours due to high swell and fast winds, but there were still a decent number of individuals flying high. There was still no sign of any Bonaparte’s Gulls moving through the straits and with the spring season progressing quickly, I’m hopeful this will equate to high counts migrating through very soon.
Canada Goose – 14
Redhead – 23
Greater Scaup – 3
White-winged Scoter – 42
Long-tailed Duck – 117
Common Goldeneye – 2
Common Merganser – 15
Red-breasted Merganser – 114
Common Loon – 12
Horned Grebe – 1
Double-crested Cormorant – 61
duck sp. – 77
Other Species:
Great Blue Heron – 1
Turkey Vulture – 31
Osprey – 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 2
Northern Harrier – 4
Bald Eagle – 5
Broad-winged Hawk – 17
Red-shouldered Hawk – 1
Red-tailed Hawk – 4
Sandhill Crane – 7
American Kestrel – 2
Merlin – 1
