Waterbird Highlights:
This week (Oct. 29–Nov. 4), we had species of waterbirds, with our highlight being RED PHALAROPE and a few more BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE. The Red Phalarope showed briefly in the morning before being lost between the 5-foot+ high swells. Two of the three kittiwakes showed on the same day, while our latest immature kittiwake moved north behind a cold front. November 2 brought a significant push of our other diving ducks such as Common Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, and our highest ever documented count of Hooded Mergansers (47 individuals) for the fall and possibly the Point.
Common Goldeneye (Fall 2021)
Other Bird Highlights:
Finches are still coming through in mass. The occasional Hoary Redpoll is seen amongst Common Redpolls, American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and a solitary Yellow-rumped Warbler. An uncommon sighting of a Sharp-tailed Grouse was posted atop a tree looking over the lake while a few observers snagged some photos of this cryptic species.
Hoary Redpoll (Fall 2021)
Other Notes:
Our next blog post will likely be the final for the Fall 2021 waterbird season. As the season wraps up, our days become more dramatic in the scenery. Counting birds with minimal visibility and keeping warm and dry can be challenging, but maintaining the mentality of spotting endless possibilities still drives our ability to focus on the horizon.
A Day as a Counter (Fall 2021)
~ Mario Balitbit, 2021 Fall Waterbird Counter
