Yesterday I scoured Alum Lake looking for migrant waterfowl.  At the same time, the cold NW wind did a pretty good job of scouring me.  I managed to bundle up enough to make short stints at the shore tolerable, and visited the dam, New Galena, the Headquarters trails, Berlin Station access, and Cheshire launch.  The waterbird haul was meager; probably the same cold winds forced them to hide in isolated coves or abandon the lake.  Notables included:

Ducks - a small flock of Lesser Scaup was off New Galena, while a handful of Ruddy Ducks was bobbing in the waves of the HQ trails.  Small numbers of Mallards were huddled close to shore at several stops.

Loons,Grebes - the loon influx reported by Jim McCormac has effluxed, as I found only 3 loons (1 at New Galena, 2 at New Berlin).  Grebes were also scarce, with just 2 Pied-bills in the cove at Cheshire launch.

Raptors - more interesting, with an adult Bald Eagle cruising the shore at the HQ trails, and a Red-shouldered cutting across the inlet at Berlin Station.  Despite tromping through the pine forest at the HQ trails, I couldn't flush up any owls.

Landbirds - only 'winter migrants' remain.  Notable were E. Bluebirds (at many locations, topped by 9 at New Galena), Fox Sparrows (at 3 locations), Tree Sparrows (at 2 locations), and Lapland Longspurs (flyovers at 2 locations).  The longspurs are unusual here, and may be attracted by the unusually large mudbars in many parts of the still-low lake.

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