Dead Creek WMA - 8/4/02
5:30 - 7:30pm
Brilyea Area
Low numbers of shorebirds - most were on the far bank.

Species:

Green Heron
Great Blue Heron - 30+
Great Egret - 8
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 7 Juv. & 1 Adult
Tricolored Heron (possible)
Wood Duck
Am. Wigeon
Gadwall
Lesser Yellowlegs - 2
Solitary Sandpiper
Peeps - 20 (fly-by)
Killdeer
Semipalmated Plover - 2
Bald Eagle - 1st year - caught a fish - not bad for a beginner.
Merlin
Osprey

The Tricolored Heron was unfortunately at the far end of the pool but
viewing conditions were quite good and my scope works well at 60X. It was by
itself, far removed from the others, fishing the far bank. Back view showed
almost entirely dark, slate blue with bright white belly often visible when
bending forward. Side view showed a uniform slate blue neck and head, long
yellow bill, and little, if any white visible on head. Front view showed the
neck as a white stripe with some dark streaks, but the bird didn't face me
for very long. It tended to move up and down the shoreline while fishing,
and didn't move out into the deeper water with the other herons. Size was
difficult to judge because there were no other birds around it.

Dana C. Rohleder, O.D.
Port Kent, NY
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