I stand corrected in awarding Enid Lake special status with regard to
current gull diversity as Sardis and Grenada each have boasted their own
fourth species recently: Sardis the continuing winter Lesser Black-backed
Gull (returning since at least Feb '13, possibly the same 1st cyc recorded
in Jan '11), and Grenada a Laughing Gull recorded during the CBC.
Enid, I maintain, edges the other two in the tie-break by rarity of the
fourth species. If we get a wintering CAGU at Enid for the next five years,
that'll be something indeed.
JR
On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 5:45 PM, JR Rigby <jr.rigby@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Missbirders,
This morning Hal Mitchell, Andy Bell, Mitch Robinson, Jeff Hill and I
ventured out onto the tundra to see what winter treats might be in store.
We began the day at Enid Lake at daybreak with temperatures around 17 F and
a north wind variable up to 10mph. NOAA reported a windchill around -1 F
but negative numbers mean nothing to me when it comes to temperature. At
sunrise the vapor from sublimating ice over the forest made it look as
though the horizon was ablaze (photo: https://flic.kr/p/PMhTyg).
The CALIFORNIA GULL made an early appearance over the spillway before
returning to the lake shore for a bath and some preening. Enid Lake reigns
for a while longer up here for the lake with highest gull diversity at 4
species. There was also a small flock of DUNLIN on the mudflats behind the
camping area at the south end of the dam.
In the Ballentine Rd area we were able to relocate the SPRAGUE'S PIPIT,
had several flocks of AMERICAN PIPITS including large mixed flocks of
pipits, Horned Larks, and VESPER SPARROWS. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS (photo:
https://flic.kr/p/PJx6YC) were delightfully common today seen both in the
woods along the bluffs on Ballentine Rd and then again several times in
mixed blackbird flocks in the Delta. BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were also present
but did not dominate the flocks. A few small flocks of SANDHILL CRANES were
moving around the Holly Grove area with one group of 40 or so hanging out
in a field off of Samuels Rd near the intersection with Hwy 315.
An early highlight in the area was the presence of not one but two (!)
MERLINS within a quarter mile of one another off Silo Rd NW of the SPPI
spot (may the Merlins forever overlook the pipit). Back on Ballentine Rd we
watched a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE dismember a SAVANNAH SPARROW (photo:
https://flic.kr/p/R1TJoZ). We walked one fallow field west of the
Lakeview Cemetery spot and came up with at least 3 LE CONTE'S SPARROWS
flushing from the grass among the Savannahs. Whether there has been an
influx or the cold simply pushed the Savannahs out into the open, this
morning was the first day Savannah abundance seemed to approach typical
winter levels with SAVS basically ubiquitous.
Near the Hwy 3 intersection with Hwy 4 at the intersection of 3 and
Arkabutla Rd, Andy Bell spotted a WHITE-WINGED DOVE on a wire just off the
highway. As we passed, the two of us saw the dark primaries and white wing
patches as it flew south behind us. We stopped and alerted the other car,
but could not find the bird for pictures when we returned to the spot.
On the ponds around Fish Lake Rd (one of the few not frozen) Hal spotted a
few GREATER SCAUP (photo: https://flic.kr/p/PMhKLc) among the shovelers
and ruddys.
Arkabutla Lake had a good assortment of gulls and waterfowl. Ducks
included REDHEAD, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, MALLARD, GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
HOODED MERGANSER, AMERICAN WIGEON and most notably 4 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS.
A "good assortment" of gulls for northern MS still just means three species
with several of each to look at, so in this case 3 HERRING GULLS (2 1st
cycle, 1 ad) and hundreds of the smaller gulls.
Nothing too crazy, but a good morning of real winter birding in the Delta
full of good conversation on topics as diverse as scaup ID, which appendage
going numb is the best indicator to stop scoping gulls, and whether the
Mpemba Effect might apply to urinating en plein air, so to speak.
Good birding,
JR
