Our Firelands Audubon birding class has just begun here in Erie  County.
Today was our first field trip which included the Castalia Duck  Pond, the
old bridge abutment in Bay View (closed to through traffic, but open  for
birding and fishing), and Medusa Marsh.

The Duck Pond was virtually empty.  Not much was seen at Bay View  either,
just a small raft of Ruddy Ducks, two Wood Ducks, and a male Hooded
Merganser, Double-crested Cormorants, and Ring-billed Gulls.

At Medusa Marsh, the most plentiful ducks were Ring-bills.  Also  present
were Gadwall, American Wigeons,  Black Ducks, a male  Hooded Merganser, and a
male Northern Shoveler.   Other birds included  Pied-billed Grebe, American
Coot, Tree Swallows, Great Egrets, Killdeer,  Red-winged Blackbirds, Song
Sparrows, one adult Bald Eagle, a kettle of Turkey  Vultures, a pair of
Trumpeter Swans, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, and a small  flock of Bonaparte's
Gulls.

Just as the last of us were leaving, we saw a flock of shorebirds flying in
 the distance.  They came from the south and were heading northeast.   They
flew tightly grouped.  I am guessing they may have been Dunlin, but  would
appreciate any other suggestions as to their identity.  There are  isolated
patches of shoreline along the bay in that direction but the best  habitat
for them may be Pickerel Creek which is further to the east.

If any of you are interested in joining our bird class, we meet Thursday
evenings at 7 PM and Saturday mornings at 8 AM in various locations in Erie
and  Huron Counties.  Class runs through May 20.  Contact me for more
information.

Sheryl Young
Sandusky

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