SOUTH SHORE YACHT CLUB - PHOTO BY TOM SCHULTZ
It’s been a strange winter to this point, with mild temperatures and little snow, and our field trip on Sunday, Jan. 7 was no exception. As our group gathered around 8:00 AM at South Shore Yacht Club, the temperature was right around 32 degrees, with a gentle wind from the WNW.
The mild temps left the marina waters totally open, and the number of waterfowl were down. The regular flocks of MALLARDS and CANADA GEESE were present, along with a lone AMERICAN BLACK DUCK – and otherwise just a few COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Small numbers of RING-BILLED and HERRING GULLS were around, along with a group of 27 AMERICAN COOTS.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS - PHOTO BY TOM SCHULTZ
About 8:30 the group headed north to the Lake Express Ferry Terminal, where a good number of HERRING and RING-BILLED GULLS were flying around and sitting on the breakwall. Perched nearby was a pleasant surprise -- an adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL! Otherwise, only CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS and RED-BREASTED MERGANERS were present.
From there we drove north to the North Point Snack Bar parking lot, and scanned Lake Michigan from the shore. Lots of COMMON GOLDENEYE (perhaps 400) were present, as well as about 200 GREATER SCAUP. A lone LONG-TAILED DUCK was spotted among the scaup.
RED-THROATED LOON -PHOTO BY MICHAEL GUMTOW
A short time later, a RED-THROATED LOON was spotted swimming well offshore, and then a second individual was found at much closer range. These were certainly a nice treat to find!
A little further up the shore was a stop south of the Linnwood Water Treatment Plant, where more COMMON GOLDENEYE were present, along with smaller numbers of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. A handful of BUFFLEHEAD swam closer to shore. A bunch of these birds took flight when a BALD EAGLE flew over, but most of them returned after a short time.
Suddenly, a group of three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS was spotted. The birds were somewhat backlit and diving periodically, but we moved a bit and managed to get decent scope views to confirm their identities.
From there we drove north to Port Washington and stopped at Coal Dock Park. Not many ducks were present in the harbor other than more RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, which provided very nice views, and a few others. We hiked over to check a canal, and found a male REDHEAD and a surprising DUNLIN that was feeding along the rocky shore!
PEREGRINE - PHOTO BY MATT KLEMME
We continued out to the pond adjacent to Lake Michigan and found more ducks, including a few LONG-TAILED that were swimming around. Suddenly a small group of AMERICAN PIPITS came flying in, with one landing in a small tree and the others on the ground. They only stayed for a short time, then the four of them took off again.
AMERICAN PIPIT - PHOTO BY JON BARTELL
It turned out there was also another exciting find there. A SAVANNAH SPARROW was spotted and photographed in this same location – a fairly rare bird in January! A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS were spotted in the vicinity of their nest box on the adjacent power plant, and we were able to get nice looks at one as it circled around over our heads.
SAVANNAH SPARROW - PHOTO BY MICHAEL GUMTOW
Our final stop of the day was in Sheboygan, along the lakefront. We encountered a group of RING-BILLED and HERRING GULLS that were loafing near and on the jetties. After carefully scoping through them we found two adult ICELAND GULLS (“THAYER’S” type) standing and preening among them. Their dark eyes and pale under-primaries were clearly visible.
ICELAND GULL "THAYERS" TYPE - PHOTO BY MATT KLEMME
BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were swimming out on the lake, but otherwise things were fairly quiet. We decided to conclude the field trip about 1:20 PM. The high temperature for the day was around 35 degrees – not bad for early January! Thanks to all who participated, and to Jeff Baughman for co-leading the trip.
