Clinton Lake; De Witt Co; 11/13/09

[frake...@aol.com]

Greetings, everyone --

 

I did my weekly Clinton Lake survey today for 6 hours. Highlights included...well, let's see...the sun was shining, meteors didn't destroy the earth, nuclear war did not break out... I'm probably forgetting a few things, but none of them would have anything to do with Clinton Lake today. I am hoping that by using such hyperbole in describing the monotony that was Clinton Lake today, I will guarantee a 70 species day for Lambeth and his Champaign crew at tomorrow's walk. After spending 6 hours counting -- yes, ACTUALLY COUNTING (189+30+1+695+230+47+69+25+44+30+10+10+6+38, for the record) --  Ring-billed Gulls, I finally get home only to get a knife in my birding heart -- Neise's post about his GREAT Gull day (see IBF "Gulls, Gulls, Gulls!"). I'm headed for an intervention...

 

Waterfowl diversity and numbers were down from earlier, unless the darn thing had a green head -- of course this does not include the massive raft of heat shimmering spots located in the part of the Lake being used by dogs and shotguns -- I'm guessing either Mallards or Scaup (or a mild hallucination), but I decided to throw in a few scoters, an eider and a Garganey just for the hell of it (watch that De Witt list grow...).

 

Mascoutin Beach was closed -- thank the Lord -- that just spared me counting another 2000 Ring-billed Gulls. It will also be closed for tomorrow's walk.

 

Did I mention today's sparrow diversity yet? Good to see those Juncos coming through.

 

Loons were still a presence, but seemed extra crafty today -- I had 14, about half of which I found using the Bonaparte's Gulls following the loons while they fed under water.

 

It says a lot about this wonderful spot that a 43 species day is a slow one for here. Even though tomorrow may continue to hold these pleasant southern winds and sun that seem to put this lake into the doldrums, I'd go punish myself again in a heartbeat if I did not have to work. It's BECAUSE I can't go that I know something big is going to happen...

 

And it better NOT be a Cave Swallow....

 

Totals are below.

 

Matt Fraker

De Witt Co

11/13/09

 

Location:     Clinton lake
Observation date:     11/13/09
Number of species:     43

Canada Goose     6
American Wigeon     2
American Black Duck     7
Mallard     442
Lesser Scaup     1
Hooded Merganser     16
Common Loon     14
Pied-billed Grebe     6
Horned Grebe     1
Double-crested Cormorant     9
Great Blue Heron     5
Turkey Vulture     1
Bald Eagle     1
Northern Harrier     2
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)     8
American Kestrel     4
American Coot     1
Killdeer     3
Bonaparte's Gull     235
Ring-billed Gull     1424
Mourning Dove     32
Belted Kingfisher     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     4
Downy Woodpecker     6
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)     2
Blue Jay     15
American Crow     47
Black-capped Chickadee     7
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)     1
Brown Creeper     1
Carolina Wren     1
Golden-crowned Kinglet     3
Eastern Bluebird     1
American Robin     1
European Starling     3
Cedar Waxwing     14
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)     7
Northern Cardinal     6
Red-winged Blackbird     40
House Finch     1
American Goldfinch     9
House Sparrow     6