Sparked by Spencer Hardy's report yesterday of terns in vicinity of the
Champlain Bridge to Arnold Bay, I visited five viewing areas midday today.
Highlights seen from the Champlain Bridge included 21 Common Terns, one
Black Tern, 31 Brant, and 16 White-winged Scoters - the last two
apparently seriously in migration. A Caspian Tern flew by while I was
at Turkey Lane. Over a thousand Ring-billed Gulls (clicker-counted)
occupied beaches and piers at Port Henry, with another flock of nearly
600 at White Bay in Panton.
The Champlain Bridge checklist is below.
Ian
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Champlain Bridge / Chimney Point, Addison, US-VT
May 23, 2014 10:55 AM - 11:58 AM
Protocol: Stationary
19 species (+1 other taxa)
Brant 31 Single flock mostly in single file flying just above the
water northward up the center of the lake. Characteristic goose shape,
dark body, noticeably large white underbody showing when viewed from the
side and rear. Could make out a light necklace on a number of the birds
in spite of distance and speed.
Mallard 4
Greater/Lesser Scaup 7 Small flock on water. Too distant to discern
species.
White-winged Scoter 16 Single string flock skimming the water
flying northward up the center of the lake. White secondaries
prominent; otherwise a black bird.
Common Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 32
Osprey 1
Ring-billed Gull 1027 Large groups on pier, dock and beaches at
Port Henry: 123, 285, 53, 514. Others in air and on water. Clicker
counted. Lighting good.
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Black Tern 1 With Common Terns. Very noticeably smaller. Overall
gray tern, including top and bottom of wings. Body dark.. Wings long,
sharply pointed. White rear underbody clearly distinct from dark belly
and wings.
Common Tern 21 Actively flying and diving over water from mid-lake
to near NY shore. Only other tern distinguished was one Black Tern.
Counted by individuals three times; when all together (20), when in two
separate groups (21), and when scattered (19).
Belted Kingfisher 1
Warbling Vireo 2
American Robin 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
American Redstart 1
Song Sparrow 1
Common Grackle 3
House Sparrow 2
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18528380
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/vt)
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