Hi all,
Marilyn and I made the 3.8-mile trek around Suttle Lake, Jefferson County
yesterday, where we tallied 32 bird species. We also encountered two other
birders, Cindy Zulanardo (who alerted us to a near-by White-throated
Sparrow) and Matt Cahill who shared our gull sighting. The fall colors were
at their peak, and would have been worth the hike, even if there were no
birds!
Most notable was a juvenile-first winter gull that I have tentatively
identified as a "Thayer's" Iceland Gull (see photos on the eBird checklist:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S96636833 ;). I'd be interested in the opinions
of the gull experts out there. It seems too light overall to be a Herring
Gull. Iceland Gull is rare in Jefferson County.
Other species of note included:
Greater Scaup - 1
Surf Scoter - 15
Hooded Merganser - 8
Red-necked Grebe - 1
Eared Grebe - 4
Wester Grebe - 55
Common Loon - 3
Bald Eagle - 1
Hermit Thrush - 3
Pine Siskin - several
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Good Birding!
Craig Miller
Bend
