[Birdtalk] Farmington Bay in gray (weather)

[Deedee &/or Dick O'Brien]

40 species isn't bad for a gray day at Farmington Bay! Killdeer seemed to outnumber any other "land" birds and Coots took the honor for water birds. It had snowed, but mainly drizzled lightly or not at all during the morning.

The ponds on Glover Lane were full of waterfowl including many Canvasbacks and many were close by for easy viewing from the car. Even a Ruddy Duck in full blue bill swan near my car. (and I don't remember seeing one in these ponds before). Pelicans and cormorants shared the little islands with Canada Geese and a few Avocets. 18 GBH's on the rookery were standing,sitting on nests, mating, or bringing in sticks as gifts. 13 nests look to be fully or partially built. 

Within FB before the gate to the west dike birds of note were 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, one Rough-legged Hawk, one Forster's Tern that flew by nearly at eye level. Many ducks were in the flats north of Egg Island, and a group of ~20 Tree Swallows flew along the canal east of the road by the gate.

Inside the gate on the west dike, the only new birds were a pair of American Pipits, Buffleheads, one Eared Grebe. BUT, suddenly a huge flock of Tree Swallows (est. 300) swirled in front of my car and landed (sort of; their wings were still flapping)temporarily in the green area along the roadside. On my way out 4 Tundra Swan flew over my head and landed in Unit 1 right by the entrance gate/dike. Nice parting gift!

Surprised not to find any Western or Clark's Grebes, nor Common Goldeneye. Looking forward to arrival of more sandpipers, swallows, egrets, ibis.
Deedee

Full Bird List:

Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
American White Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Rough-legged Hawk
American Kestral
American Coot
Killdeer
American Avocet
Ring-billed Gull
Forster's Tern
Black-billed Magpie
Tree Swallow
American Robin
European Starling
American Pipit
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
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