Saturday, November 15, 2008

Lake Huron Birding


A brutal north wind developed for Saturday, rather unexpectantly. As late as Thursday night, the wind was supposed to be out of the SW at 40 km/h with about 40% chance of rain. Obviously the forecast was dead wrong once again! So, I had to head to Point Edward on Lake Huron for birding on Saturday.
The wind eventually reach at least 50 km/h straight out of the north, and the rain never stopped. I spent six hours there, all in the car! I did venture out once, but my hat blew off twice. Good thing there was a fence on the hill, or my hat would have went south very quickly.
There was not a huge number of birds, perhaps it was too nasty. Some good birds though. Not a picture taking day, but I did get a couple of shots. The Pomarine Jaeger was rather distant, but you can see the jaeger shape. I will copy my Ontbirds posting here that sums up the day. (add about 175 Tundra Swans in several flocks).
Jaegers: 1 juv unidentified at distance (likely Parasitic) early morning. 1 juv Pomarine entirely on the Michigan side and disappeared over the city of Port Huron. I viewed this for about 7 minutes.



Loons: At least 50 Common Loons, many of which were strangely coming from overland behind me. 3 Red-throated.
Grebes: 1 Red-necked, and 3 Horned.

Gulls: Several flocks of Bonaparte's, but nothing with them. One juv Little Gull (came out of St. Clair R.). + Herring, Great Black-backed and Ring-billed.

Ducks: At least 20 Black Scoters swimming in the channel (the only scoters of the day). Plus common species.
One Red Phalarope (came out of St. Clair R.-Ontario side).
One ad. Bald Eagle carrying large fish from Michigan side. Later saw it go back empty-taloned.

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