FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Dec 17 and 18

[David Roemer <dlroemer@xxxxxxxxx>]

Highlights from a trip to the Sloughs WMA, Lake Pee
Wee in Madisonville, and Kentucky and Barkley Dams are
as follows:

17 December 2002

A total of 22 species of waterfowl for the day
including three distant swans in a flooded field along
Hwy 268 on the Sloughs WMA in Henderson County.  The
birds had yellow neck collars, and I got the
impression that they were Trumpeters.  There was some
variation in the facial features of the birds,
including the amount of eye enclosed by the facial
skin and the profile of the bill.  I was unable to see
any yellow in the lores.  I have reported the collar
information and await confirmation on these birds.  I
was able to obtain some video, although of poor
quality due to distance and lighting.  Confirmation of
either species will result in an interesting study of
variability in structure and facial features.  

Also present at the Sloughs were Snow and Greater
White-fronted Geese as well as good numbers of
expected duck species.

A basic-plumaged Pacific Loon was present in the
company of a few Common Loons at Lake Pee Wee in
Madisonville.  Although the bird was at the far end of
the lake and the heat distortion was bad, I was able
to obtain some video where it is IDable.  A couple of
female Common Mergansers were also present as were a
good number of expected divers.

I arrived at the dams in time for a quick check as the
birds began flying to roost.  A 1st yr. Laughing Gull
was present below Ky. Dam.  A large number of gulls,
mostly Ring-billed, was seen as sillhouetes against
the dusky sky as they sailed over the dam and rested
on the open water at dark.

18 December 2002

The strong southerly winds had the lakes rolling, and
the distant waterfowl on Barkley was almost impossible
to see.  I was able to scrape out in excess of one
hundred Canvasbacks in the Boyd's Landing area. 
Approximately 75 White Pelicans rested on a bar in the
Kuttawa area. 

Interesting gull species seen included a 1st yr.
Glaucous above Ky. Dam, an adult Lesser Black-backed
at Kuttawa on Barkley, and 1st yr. Laughing Gulls
below Kentucky and Barkley Dams.

Dave






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