Ducks galore

Well it was blowing from the south/southeast and the threat of rain existed all day (though miraculously I never actually got wet once today) so with the way this year has gone you just knew it was gonna be a good day.  For the first time all season there was a large, consistent flow for all eight hours and a large selection of species were in good numbers instead of just one of two species comprising the majority of the flight.  Let's hope this kind of day becomes more regular.

Overall duck numbers were very strong with almost every dabbling and Aythya species providing a a high count for the year so far.  Some of the good numbers or less common species included

Wood Duck 1

Gadwall 16

American Wigeon 379

Mallard 260

Northern Shoveler 12

Redhead 272

Greater Scaup 244

Scaup Sp. + Aythya Sp. 223

Hooded Merganser 3

A number of other species of waterfowl were noted but in smaller numbers including Canada Goose, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Surf and White-winged Scoter, and Red-breasted Merganser.  Loon numbers were similar to previous days with another good daily count of 106 Commons and 17 Red-throateds.  Grebes were in much better numbers over recent days with an impressive total of 84 Horneds and a good showing by Red-necked with 498.

For the first time all year Bonaparte's Gulls were on the move in some numbers with numerous small groups totaling 90 birds for the day.  Shorebird numbers were also much higher, though not in the greatest diversity, with 15 American Golden-Plovers, 1 Black-bellied Plover, 15 Sanderlings, and the season's first White-rumped Sandpiper all passing by or spending some time on the bayshore.

Landbird numbers were also very strong (though most seemed to be the expected American Robins, Blue Jays, etc...) with a Gray Catbird and a couple Indigo Buntings being the most unusual species noted for the day.