Hi -
I just got back from a too-quick Klamath trip - cut short by an unexpected
schedule change here at home. It was good to see the basin with a reasonable
amount of water.
Highlights:
faux White-headed Duck. I assume this is an aberrant Ruddy Duck - head mostly
white, with some black feathering on the crown and nape. This was most
extensive on the crown but not solid. Location: Tule Lake, Sump 1A, about a
mile in along the driving tour. [in California]
Wood Duck. Drake in same area - probably not rare in the basin, but sure looked
out of place.
Snow and Ross's Geese - very large numbers. A flock in sump 1A Saturday
afternoon was well over 10,000 birds, with the two species well-mixed. The
flock also included several hundred Greater White-froned Gees, at least 1
Cackling Goose, 4 "Blue" Snow Geese. and at least 1 Blue-phase Ross's Goose,
the latter all adults.
Trumpeter Swan: 2. One at Miller Island, and 1 in Lower Klamath Refuge (CA).
Both were immature, and neither was collared. I only found about 35 Tundra
Swans, so their migration has happened.
Raptor numbers were pretty low. I think lots of wintering Bald Eagles and
Northern Harriers have departed. Still quite a few Rough-legged hawks, mainly
in farm fields.
Wayne
Eagle.
