MONO, hopping from res to res (mostly continuing goodies)

[alan demartini]

Hello all, Gorgeous day to play outside, venturing from waterbody to waterbody. Cold (11 degrees)  calm start at Bridgeport Res with finish at warmer (54 F) but windier Crowley, with the June Lk Loop in between. Highlights below ... in my own wacky order... Bridgeport Res Oldsquaw 1; my favorite for the day refound at 8:15 sleeping nearshore with W Grebes                    right by the dam. 1 Cm Loon there too. WW Scoter 6; seen when they flew through my scope view. They were south of Ramp Rd                    & flew to the west area of the res, were they appeared to be restless (ie lots of                   wing flapping as if they might be moving on soon?). If they hang there, it's not                   very near the road. All seemed to be immatures. Western Gull 1; 3rd year, 1st noted onshore alone below the houses & partly obstructed                   (about mid-lake). As I moved for a better angle of view ravens chased it over                    toward the west (far) shore. 15+ RB Gulls were present today too but not                    associated with the large exotic fellow. Cackling Goose 2; looked like minima & were in gorgeous light early, as they stood on the                    slushy ice, their breasts to the rising sun (with ~90 Canada Geese). Also 4 Am White Pelican, 5 Tundra Swans, 3 Bald Eagles (2 ad) & 200+ Horned Larks.   V quiet at Mono Co Pk (Downy WP was best) Grant Lk Rs (north cell) WW Scoter 1, male (possibly adult in molt or advanced imm with lots of black/blackish on                    foreparts; white at the eye was bigger than normal for an ad). Diving alot,                   found at 1:15pm near MP 11.5 (just north of the narrows). Also Cm Loon 4  (south cell still full of coots & ruddies) Silver Lk (Rs?) Hooded Mergs 3 (2 ad males) Gull Lk Hooded Merg 1 gal June Lk Cm Loon 3 Hooded Merg 3 (2 ad males) Crowley (from Marina area & from dam only)  Swans 6-7 (partly obscured by topography likely all Tundras) Bald Eagle 1 ad                   Waves from the north wind made viewing distant floating birds problematic at times. More gulls (c70) here than elsewhere but all CA & RB except for one larger looking individual that 'got away". Lotsa fun,                Al DeMartini