The gulls at East 72nd Street were spectacular today in number.  I however
don't think the variety was as good as the last couple days.  There were
some pretty incredible feeding frenzies where it was difficult to pick out
the uncommon birds because the birds were so thick.  There were at least 10
glaucous gulls of all ages, at least 8 Iceland gulls (including one dark
eyed adult Kumlien's), 15+ lesser black-backed gulls, but only a single
Thayer's gull.  I was unable to relocate the 3rd year California gull from
yesterday.  There was also a probable Nelson's gull.  Also of interest were
a couple extremely cooperative snow buntings.

It is very interesting the number of non-adult lesser black-backed gulls.
In past years you could find them if you looked.  This year they seem to be
every where you look.  One one point in time Friday I had 3 1st winter and 1
second winter within ten feet of each other.  It will be interesting in
coming years to see if this trend continues.  If it does we will mention the
five common species were present and the lesser black-backed will be the
fifth along with great black-backed, herring, ring-billed, and Bonaparte's.

The WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was present at my feeders in North Perry both
yesterday and today.  Yesterday it was seen by Emil and Brenda in the
morning.  Today I saw it around 8:30.  It came in with a group of 10 house
finches.  It remained in a spruce tree and never came in to the feeders.
This afternoon it was seen again.  Again it was with the house finch flock
and this time it fed on the ground at my feeders near the house.  I also had
two pine siskins and a single common redpoll today.  I also had a group of
40+ common redpolls feeding in the alders along the cliff.  Unfortunately
they never made it to the feeders.

I have not had any waterbird surveys due to ice on the lake out here.

John Pogacnik
4765 Lockwood Road
Perry, OH 44081
(440) 259-2751

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