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November 2010

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From:
Robert Royse <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Robert Royse <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 1 Nov 2010 17:02:52 -0700
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I scoped out the Deer Creek Reservoir today. It's November now and just about anything can show up there at this time of year. The water level is going down quickly now. There were two significant birds worth reporting : a RED PHALAROPE, and an ICELAND GULL.

The phalarope wasn't too much of a surprise. I always figured I'd see one there at this time of year eventually and today was the day.

The Iceland Gull was a huge surprise both for the location and date. I got great looks at it both standing between Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and in flight. It was with a group of gulls near the boat launch. Even before I saw its profile, it stuck out from the birds around it with its characteristic round head and pudgy look. It was a first year bird with a completely black bill, intermediate in size between the Herrings and Ring-billeds. When I went back to the car to get my camera gear the bird took off alone. When it took flight I saw no darkening at the tips of the primaries. It looked like a typical first winter Iceland to me in every way. I was able to watch it rise high and then head north. I suppose it could have been a Thayer's Gull, but it seemed too light for that. I admit that Thayer's Gulls aren't my specialty, so I'm inclined to call it an Iceland and look forward to the day when those two species are lumped. I know that there is an early Nov. record for Thayer's Gull at Buck Creek, which isn't too far away, but an Iceland even at Lake Eire at this date would be unusual. I couldn't relocate it and I presume it left the area. I'll try to get there again tomorrow if I can get the time.

Other gulls included large numbers of Ring-billed and Bonaparte's with a lesser number of Herring Gulls. The gulls numbers there fluctuate a lot. I suspect that many of the larger gulls move back and forth between the reservoir and the landfill between Columbus and Deer Creek. That Iceland Gull is the 10th gull species I've seen at the Deer Creek Reservoir in the past few years.

Other shorebirds present were typical for the date with a large number of Killdeers all over, ~30 Dunlins, several Wilson's Snipes, a Greater Yellowlegs, and at least one Least Sandpiper.

Other birds in the reservoir included Ruddy Ducks, Lesser Scaups, Ring-necked Ducks and a single Common Loon.

I never made it to the southern part of the State Wildlife Area with the wetlands, but I quickly spished a few times in the northern part of the wildlife area between the reservoir and Mount Sterling. In those fields White-crowned Sparrows are still abundant, and they were joined by a few American Tree Sparrows, the first for me this season.

Bob Royse


Robert Royse
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www.roysephotos.com


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