Global Big Day and Massive White-Winged Scoter Flight Broome Co. NY

[David Nicosia]

All,

Had about 7 hours to bird today so I made the most of it and began at one of our local hotspots - Whitney Point Dam. along Keibal Rd. Jim Hoteling, one of our fine local birders, made it there early and reported an amazing 250+ WW SCOTERS on the dam. I came up quickly and we found even more up the reservoir. We had a close estimate of 400 WW SCOTERS which crushed the Broome Co previous high count record of 27. I also looked around the Finger Lakes county's ebird reports and it looks like this could be a record for upstate NY in the counties away from Lake Ontario/Lake Erie and of course it pales in comparison to the staggering numbers that have been counted from Long Island.  This is the most of this species I have ever seen away from the coast by far. There were also other reports of high numbers of WW SCOTERS around the Finger Lakes too. I suspect last night's heavy rain coincided with a big migratory flight of this species and many of these birds were forced down. Amazingly we carefully checked all the scoters and only came up with 1 SURF SCOTER. We also had 4 RED-NECKED GREBES which are rare in Broome Co but regular each year.

Keibal rd in Whitney Point is unique in that it has woodland and field habitat that comes right up to the lake.  There were quite a few warbler flocks mostly Yellow-rumped, but we also had several other species   List for Keibal Rd is here https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S87440451

Upper Lisle County Park was quiet as we hit it midday and it was beginning to get windy with temperatures around 40F. Upper Lisle Co. Park list is here https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S87472754

I totaled 103 species in Broome County which was decent. I wish I had more time. 

I hope many of you had an awesome day too! 

Good Birding to all!

Best,

Dave Nicosia 

[Victor Lamoureux]

I can add ONE WW Scoter that was at Murphy's.... but out on the river accompanying 4 Bufflehead.  I had 5 gadwalls and three ruddy ducks on the medium pond.....Best look at ruddy duck I have had in a while.  Usually they are way out on the WP reservoir. Two green winged teal too.  There must have been a surprising number of waterfowl aloft last night.

Victor

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