[Birdnet] 20Nov07-Lakefront: MEW GULL, 18 LTDU's

[Tim Avery]

This morning (11/20) I hit the causeway expecting a good movement of birds with
overnight NW winds.  I was pleased with the number of gulls along the entire
length of the north side of the causeway.  The majority of the birds were
Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls, but a few Herring and California were mixed
in.  The best bird of the morning was a 2nd year MEW GULL at the first bridge.

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/nove07/megu_01.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/nove07/megu_02.jpg

The bird was about 150 feet out with several Ring-billeds for a nice comparison.
 After looking at every Ring-billed Gull I have seen over the last 2 months,
the payoff was well worth the wait.

Unfortunately, I now will have to face the wrath of the birding gods, brought on
by Kris Purdy cursing them for allowing me to find this bird (sorry Kris!).

At the last bridge were an astounding 18!!!! yes, 18 LONG-TAILED DUCKS,
including 7 adult males with tail plumes. 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and the BLACK
SCOTER were also swimming around.  For lack of a better word, two jerks in
boats went under the bridge, and drove right through the flock of bird
scattering everything.  I didn't see the WWSC's after this, but the LTDU's all
returned.  I had a few choice words for them... under my breath.

Highlights:

Number of species:     34

Tundra Swan - Cygnus columbianus     4
Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis     25
White-winged Scoter - Melanitta fusca     2
Black Scoter - Melanitta nigra     1
Long-tailed Duck - Clangula hyemalis     18
Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola     5
Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator     3
Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis     4
Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus     1
American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana     500
Bonaparte's Gull - Larus philadelphia     350
Mew Gull - Larus canus     1
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus     10

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Cheers

Tim
Salt Lake City, UT
tanager at timaverybirding.com
http://www.timaverybirding.com
http://www.timavery.com