October continues to produce great flights in the last week. Aythya numbers continue to dominate the flights, but there have also been good numbers of scoters and dabblers as well. A large flight on Oct. 8 produced over 1,000 Aythya, with 900 of those being scaup. There were also 270 American Wigeons on Oct. 8, making it one of the biggest flights of the season for that species. An alternate plumaged Pacific Loon made a pass by the Point with a Common Loon on Oct. 8 as well. This Pacific Loon was the second of the season and the highlight of the week for waterbirds. A Trumpeter Swan on Oct. 13 is the first swan of the fall. Shorebird numbers are still small, with American Golden-Plovers and Pectoral Sandpipers being the main species. A Hudsonian Godwit that briefly dropped into the pond on Oct. 11 was a real treat.
Adult Peregrine Falcon. Photo by Alec Olivier
Hudsonian Godwit. Photo by Alec Olivier
~ Alec Olivier
2022 Fall Waterbird Counter
