Fall Waterbird Count 10/21 – 10/27: “Bucephala?” Bless you!

Our biggest change this week is now daily numbers of Buffleheads and Common Goldeneyes, which have been a little late to the scene this fall during this El Nino. We expect for their numbers to ramp up over the upcoming week. White-winged Crossbills have continued to be plentiful around the Point and in morning flight.  Many feeding flocks have been observed on the Jack Pine cones, even in the nearest stands by the shack. On the 21st we had a flock of 31 Sandhill Cranes come in off the lake. We have had consistent numbers of Rough-legged Hawks and American Goshawks interacting with the lake this week. On the 22nd, on a calm, sunny day, we had a lazy juvenile Sabine’s Gull flying over the lake moving east and a Short-eared Owl out over the lake. 

White-winged Crossbill. Photo by Jack McDonough

The 24th was a monstrous day with an incredible finch flight. Over 1,500 Red Crossbills, 5k Pine Siskins, and first of the year Pine Grosbeaks flew over the Point in morning flight. A huge Red Crossbill movement is taking place all across the Lake Superior watches this week, following an early push that we had in August/September. Our biggest finch flights seem to always happen off Southeast winds, with birds flying into the wind after working east down the shoreline. We also had our first Northern Shrike of the fall that morning, a late Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and the first Sharp-tailed Grouse on the count that did a loop over the beach. Sharp-tailed Grouse have been almost daily around the Point this week, with at least one Spruce Grouse and several Ruffed Grouse. 

American Goshawk. Photo by Jack McDonough

Common Goldeneyes and American Green-winged Teals. Photo by Jack McDonough

We have seen a few Black Backed Woodpeckers this week, adding to a fantastic fall for them here in the UP. On the 25th, a White-winged Dove flew past the shack over the lake, a rarity from the South. On the waterbird front, we had almost 2k Redhead, over one thousand scaup, and some late shorebirds. On the 26th, we had our first day with over one thousand Red-breasted Mergansers and the first triple digit day of Common Goldeneyes. Goldeneyes have increased alongside Bufflehead this week in encouraging numbers. 

Snow Buntings continue to be very common coming in off the lake with a few around the beach daily. On the 27th we had another Short-eared Owl come in off the lake. On an overcast, cool day, I checked the harbor after the count and found our first Iceland Gull of the fall: a stunning adult Kumlien’s Gull.

Red-breasted Mergansers. Photo by Jack McDonough

So far this fall, we have counted 122k birds, with a little less than three weeks to go. As temperatures start to slowly get colder, we expect to see some flights of Long-tailed Ducks, White-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Common Goldeneyes to come. 

Rough-legged Hawk. Photo by Jack McDonough

Jack McDonough, Fall Waterbird Counter

Featured Photo: Kumlien’s Iceland Gull by J. McDonough