Howdy,
I arrived at around 11:28am at the North Pool launch
and wandered up to the beach along the shore. To my
surprise, when the flock of ~23 Ring-billed, 4
Bonaparte's and single Herring Gulls flushed, there
remained a single adult, female, mostly-breeding
Red-breasted Merganser. She looked displeased with
the sudden lack of cover, but allowed me close enough
to get some decent photos -- decent enough for ID...
Meeting the Merganser half-way out in the lake was a
single adult, non-breeding Common Loon. I was able to
get some passable photos (MUCH better than last time).
I didn't see the Red-throated Loon, sadly, but this
still was a pretty good day, despite the decidedly
foul (no pun intended) conditions. The only other
species of note was a busy Red-tailed Hawk zipping
from tree to tree just enough ahead of me that even
with the zoom, he was just a brown blob.
There WAS a small puzzle as I pulled into a VERY empty
Spring Valley NP (Juncos...). It looked for the world
like a Northern Harrier, though while having the clean
white front, the back wasn't grey, but brown with the
white rump. Intermediate molt? Sadly, as it was
perched along the road coming up on the horse farm at
the bend, I had to slow the car down a bit and try to
get the moonroof open without spooking the bird. No
such luck. Dove low and disappeared.
Anyway, it's late, I'm rambling, and I hope to have
the photos of the Mergi and Loon up, soon.
Happy birding, and good night,
Phil
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Philip M. Ware
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http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/free/gallery.asp?mem=117474
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---------------------
"I've never been so insulted in all my life."
"It's early, yet." - G. Marx.
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