Today was the largest duck flight I’ve had at McGulpin Point with over 1000 birds. Frustratingly, the majority of flocks were too distant to identify to species. A huge portion of the ducks were flying east.  I was thankful to have Phil Odum join me for the entire count today as it was very helpful to have two pairs of eyes. The predominant species was Redhead, with Scaup coming in at a distant second. There was an excellent variety of duck species with a couple first-of-the-season species — Gadwall and Lesser Scaup. Outside of ducks, it was also my best Loon day this season and the best falcon day I’ve ever had.

Canada Goose – 86
Gadwall – 1
American Wigeon – 3
Blue-winged Teal – 3
Northern Shoveler – 3
Green-winged Teal – 6
Redhead – 261
Greater Scaup – 13
Lesser Scaup – 10
Greater/Lesser Scaup – 48
Aythya sp. – 75
White-winged Scoter – 1
Common Goldeneye – 1
Common Merganser – 7
Red-breasted Merganser – 5
Common/Red-breasted Merganser – 4
duck sp. – 921
Red-throated Loon – 1
Common Loon – 51
loon sp. – 1
Horned Grebe – 6
Red-necked Grebe – 12
Double-crested Cormorant – 42

Northern Harrier – 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 9
Bald Eagle – 11
American Kestrel – 12
Merlin – 1
Peregrine Falcon – 1
falcon sp. – 7
Sandhill Crane – 19

Monarch – 16
Black Swallowtail – 1