Parasitic Jaeger, Little Gull - New Buffalo - 10/23

[kipnsuz@comcast.net]

Oct. 23 - Berrien County

Greetings,

Tony Baldoni, Tim Baerwald and I conducted a lakewatch from the New Buffalo Public Beach for several hours this morning and enjoyed several nice sightings. 

The highlight was an adult, light morph Parasitic Jaeger. We watched it approach along the beach from the north and it flew directly overhead, circled about in the harbor and then flew back over us before heading southwest over the lake. Great views and the tail streamers were very visible.

Good numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls were on the move, so we watched these flocks carefully and were eventually rewarded with a first winter Little Gull. Like the jaeger, it flew directly over us on the beach, circled in the harbor and then continued south.

When Tony and I arrived a dawn an impressive movement of Common Loons was underway and for 30 minutes or so it was often possible to see 15 or more at a time in small groups and/or scattered flocks. We also recorded two, solo Red-throated Loons in flight offshore.

A variety of ducks were moving along the lakeshore, including several dark-winged scotor flocks. The few that were actually close enough to idientify to species appeared to be Surfs. Other ducks today (Tim may add to this as he stayed a bit later....) included Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, Am. Wigeon, scaup, Mallard and Gadwall. Several Snow Buntings and a couple of lingering Sanderlings were present as well.

Good birding,

Kip Miller
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