Fall Waterbird Count Update – Week 9 (10/10-10/16)

This week of the waterbird count was my favorite so far! With many visiting birders and many exciting birds to be seen, there was quite a shift in species numbers this week. In particular, I was excited to see large numbers of Long-tailed Ducks, with 579 on 10/14 and then 1,396 on 10/15. We also have been getting larger numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers this week, our highest count so far being 375 on 10/12. Scoter numbers also continue to grow this week, with 190 White-winged Scoters counted on 10/12.

Overall, the dabbling duck numbers have been quite low, only seeing them a few days of the week. Similarly, the Greater/Lesser Scaup and Redhead (Aythya) numbers were only high on two days this week. Between 10/11 and 10/12, we counted 2,264 Aythya ducks, compared to 132 during the rest of the week. The downward trend of other species numbers continues. We only saw one Double-crested Cormorant this week, and loon numbers are also declining, as are Red-necked Grebes.

We added three new species to our waterbird count this week; our first Bufflehead was seen on 10/16, and large numbers of this duck are expected to come by as the season progresses. We also saw a group of four Trumpeter Swans on 10/12, our first of any swan species for the fall. Our third new species for the fall was a personal first for me as well: a Black-legged Kittiwake on 10/15.

The trend of Sabine’s Gulls only showing up while Fall Field Ornithologist Clay Bliznick is doing the count has finally been broken. After he saw one on 10/9 and 10/10 (my two off days), I finally got to see one on 10/11, and it put on an extraordinary show for us! This Sabine’s Gull was spotted quite distantly over the lake, heading straight toward us. After a minute or two, it landed right on shore for many birders to see!

This week also proved to be great for songbird activity around the Point! On 10/10, a Townsend’s Solitaire was seen in the jack pines behind the count area. On 10/11, we watched many songbirds flying in from over the lake; these birds were mostly sparrows, such as Dark-eyed Juncos. However, we also had a Western Kingbird fly in and land on the Merlin pole. On 10/12, we continued to have a lot of non-waterbird activity around the count area. A Black-backed Woodpecker briefly appeared, as did our first of the fall Snow Buntings, and the Chestnut-collared Longspur (or potentially a second, separate bird) reappeared.

We had some very cold, windy days this week, which is likely what encouraged so much bird movement. The forecast for next week shows warmer weather and unfavorable (south) winds; it’ll be interesting to see how the switch impacts our bird numbers.

~ Hannah Leabhart
2024 Fall Waterbird Counter

Featured photo: A large group of Long-tailed Ducks flying past the Point. Photo by Hannah Leabhart