Howdy All,

After leaving work early yesterday to enjoy some great spring sunshine,
I visited Buck Creek State Park, arriving at about 5:00 pm and leaving
at about 7:30 pm.  When I arrived, there were about 20 Double-crested
Cormorants visible from the beach, but the light for scanning the
reservoir for waterfowl was much better on the parking area below the
Visitor Center on the west side of the reservoir.  I found the
previously reported winter plumaged Red-throated Loon at a distant well
to the north of the parking area below the Visitor Center.  The bird was
near an orange and white buoy in the direction of the point of land
where the reservoir narrows.  A good telescope was necessary.  I met
Doug Overacker twice, first at the parking area at the beach and then
again at the parking area below the Visitor Center on the west side of
the reservoir.  The Red-throated Loon was identifiable by the very slim
head and neck, the very white front and side of the neck and face, the
small head and thin slightly up-turned bill relative to nearby breeding
plumaged Common Loons.  In general, this bird is smaller and more
slender than the more bulky Common Loons.  At least once, the bird
turned and caught the sunshine just right so that I could see yellow on
the thin, upturned bill.  I shared my scope with Doug Overacker, who was
birding by bicycle, and he also got identifiable but distant views.
When Doug first arrived at the Visitor parking area along the reservoir,
I was scanning the distant birds.  He found a gorgeous full breeding
plumage male Surf Scoter, which was very close to us.  Just as I got the
scoter in my scope to digiscope the bird, the scoter took flight and
showed its amazing bright red or orange red feet and legs!  That's
something that I do not recall seeing before!  WOW!  Doug pointed out
that the two Ross's Geese were on the south end of the beach when he
rode his bike across the dam path.  So before leaving for the day, I
stopped by the beach, where I met Rick Asamoto.  The two Ross's Geese
were on the grass along the beach.  Rick and I were able to approach
close enough for some photos.  Also present on the reservoir yesterday
were about 15 Common Loons many in breeding plummage, an estimated 50
red-breasted Mergansers and about 6 Buffleheads.  There was a close
flock of gulls on the beach, which were constantly stirred up by people
walking their dogs, and a distant flock far out on the reservoir well to
the north.  Quite a few Bonaparte's Gulls mixed in, but I did not get an
estimate or count of numbers.  What a great few hours of birding on a
great spring afternoon.

Jay

 

Jay G. Lehman

Cincinnati, OH

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