Despite the uninspiring reports I headed up to the lake today and found more than I was expecting and was able to add 10 more species for the year.

Late morning at E. 72nd St. : in addition to all the ducks that have been reported there were at least 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a first year Iceland Gull.

Sims Park in Euclid which has been so good for scoters in past Januarys was mostly frozen over, but in the little open water I was at least able to add Common Merganser for the year.

Eastlake was cold, windy, and icy, but well worth the stop. Within a minute I spotted 2 Iceland (1 ad., 1 first year), and 1 Glaucous (first year). I spent nearly an hour scoping there without finding any others, but those three birds remained in plain sight smack dab in front of me the whole time I was there.

Avon Lake was loaded with ducks, especially Redheads, Canvasbacks, scaups (mostly Lessers), Buffleheads, and C. Goldeneyes. Red-breasted and Common Mergansers were present in smaller numbers. New year birds for me there included Double-crested Cormorant and a single BLACK SCOTER. I saw no noteworthy gulls, but a fly by Bald Eagle looked beautiful in the light that was shining at the time.

If that doesn't sound like much for the day, it's because I was spending most of my time looking for that big northern chickadee and was striking out at every woodlot I looked. I was finding all the other expected woodland birds, but no chickadees. After Avon Lake I took a detour home via Bradley Woods where I spent a good hour walking around and again finding all the usual woodland birds including Eastern Bluebirds and Pileated Woodpeckers. It was about 5:00 when I FINALLY found one and only one BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. I would have been pretty pissed off to head back to Columbus without that one. I can guarantee you northerners, if come down here our chickadees are more obliging.

Bob Royse
http://www.roysephotos.com/2010listJAN.html

Robert Royse
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www.roysephotos.com


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