Strong north winds made for little waterbird movement and a long day for a waterbird counter. I filled in for Josh today so that he could have a much-deserved day off. There were very few highlights as there were very few birds. A Red-throated Loon flew over during the first hour. This is a much more expected species in the fall, but during the spring it is pretty much a rarity. In the fifth hour, a Golden Eagle flew over the straits on its way to the Upper Peninsula. Other than that, there was a slow, but steady trickle of White-winged Scoters. There were quite a few Red-breasted Mergansers and some distant Long-tailed Ducks resting on the water, but they were typically only visible when they were frightened and lifted off to escape. A pair of Bald Eagles and a helicopter provided such a threat, real or perceived, which made it easier to count the mergansers.
For a full list of birds, visit http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36638734.
