Independence Grove (9:30-11 a.m.)

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

The last time I went here I had lots of ducks & although the numbers
were much smaller this time there were still plenty of ducks to look
at although few land birds. Mark W has been covering this place lately
& getting lots of good photos but I did not see him here today.

Independence Grove (9:30-11 a.m.)

Great Blue Heron (1 fly-by)
Canada Goose (~550, 350 already there & then another 200 flew in)
Cackling Goose (at least 2, maybe more)
Mallard (about 10 & then another 30 or so flew in)
Ring Necked Duck (1-F)
Bufflehead (Thought I saw 1 but couldn't re-find it but another birder
said he also saw it)
Common Goldeneye (3 males & 6 females)
Hooded Merganser (74, still a lot although not like last times 167 total)
(No Common or Red Breasted Mergs today)
BALD EAGLE (1 adult flying to the east & 1 young one flying to the N.W.)
Ring Billed (4) & Herring (1) Gulls
Red Bellied Woodpecker (H-1)
Downy Woodpecker (also H-1)
Blue Jay (H-1)
Crow (also H-1)
Chickadee (2 seen)

That's 16 species at Independence Grove & I added 4 more roadside
birds for a total of 20.
Bird-Of-The-Day to the 2 Bald Eagles & Runner-Up to the lone female
Ring Necked Duck.
I felt there should have been more duck species but it is what it is!

Al Stokie
On Lake County today