Lake Marie & Independence Grove Monday 3-2-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

After two days in a row of local birding where I didn't drive much
today it was back to chasing while driving about 90 miles round trip.
The Common Gull was seen on Saturday & Sunday but only by a few
people. Nevertheless, I wanted to try today. Although I had good
birders there to help, we failed to relocate that Gull. With me today
was Dan W, Steve F, Ann H, Sean M. Paul M & others.
And I see that others were also looking before I arrived & they also
did not find the gull. Nor did another birder who looked later in the
day.

Lake Marie (9:20 am-1 pm)

WHITE PELICAN (66) (FOY)
Mute Swan (2)
Canada Goose (~15)
Goldeneye (~200)
Red Breasted (~25) & Common (~50) Mergansers
Sandhill Crane (15 fly-bys)
Ring Billed (~600) & Herring (~150) Gulls
ICELAND GULL (1, others saw 2)
Bald Eagle (2-AD & 3 young)
Crow (1)

Independence Grove (2:15-2:30 pm) (Still mostly frozen)

Canada Goose (only 1)
Mallard (1-PR)
Goldeneye (2-PR)
Red Breasted Merganser (27)
Ring Billed (3) & Herring (1) Gulls
Crow (3, on the ice)

Only 13 species at my 2 locations plus 4 roadside additions for a
day's total of 17.
Bird-Of-The-Day will be the White Pelicans which are always fun to
watch both in the air & on the water. Runners-Up will be the Iceland
(Kumlien's) Gull & all those Bald Eagles.
No awards today for the Common Gull which refused to show up for us.

Al Stokie
In Lake County today not finding the target species