On a brisk morning at the Point, one finds the mind and body to be in conflict. While the body craves the shelter that comes from huddling on the south side of the counter’s shack, the mind knows that pursuing comfort means that more birds might slip by undetected. On a heavy flight, after weeks of slow days that dragged on, you feel like, for both the sake of the count and your own spirits, you can’t afford to miss birds.
Wednesday morning, just before the count started, I stepped inside the shack to take the day’s first weather data. When I finished, I lingered for a moment inside: the weather data included such savory components as a 50kph north wind and blowing sand. It was the first day of the fall season I’d traded out rainpants for insulated bibs. But waterbirds fly in just about any weather. The day’s first flock almost immediately crested the dune that blocks visibility to the north. As they sailed past, I caught–barely–white shoulder flashes (American Wigeon) and street-racer silhouettes (Northern Pintail).
Until the last hour of my vigil, flocks streaked by the Point every few seconds. Big scoter lines rose out of the dune; wedges of Canada Geese honked as they careened overhead; Long-tailed Ducks flashed up out of the wave troughs for quick views. Blink, and you’d miss it–inconvenient, when you’ve got sand in your eyes.
This day became the count’s first big Long-tailed Duck day of the fall, with 1,010 logged. The Long-tailed flight is something everyone should see; the symmetry of flock after flock undulating over Lake Superior–rising above the swells, dipping down into the troughs, flash even at a distance with elegant dark and white–is like watching an intricately choreographed ballet. There are thousands of Long-tails yet to pass the Point before season’s end, so come share a flight with me.
In other bird news at the Point, scoters are passing through in strong numbers–so far, 16 October has been the best, with 24 Surfs, 303 White-wings, and 37 Blacks. On October 15, 16, and 17, I witnessed flights with over 2,000 birds. On the 15th, Aythya, especially Greater Scaup (945) were numerous. I also managed to winnow the season’s first Canvasback and Tundra Swans from the day, and saw two jaegers–one of them well enough to identify. (It was an adult Parasitic.) On October 17, in addition to the strong scoter, Long-tail, and Green-winged Teal flight, the season’s first Northern Shrike made a brief appearance behind the counter’s shack…
As always, thank you for reading!
–Alison Vilag, 2019 WPBO Waterbird Counter
