I birded around Kerr Dam in Mecklenburg County today. Good day with lots of
ducks and gulls. Highlights included the continuing RED-NECKED GREBE above the
dam, 3 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS including an adult male, a pair of NORTHERN
PINTAIL, 9 REDHEADS, 2 female COMMON GOLDENEYE and a flock of 35 CANVASBACKS
that flew in while I was trying to separate the scaup. As far as the scaup go,
I estimated 33 GREATERS and 31 LESSERS. Tailrace Park, below the dam, had a
nice surprise as I discovered a LONG-TAILED DUCK there. Also there was a single
SPOTTED SANDPIPER, a species that has wintered at this location in the past.
Gull numbers are high this year, probably the most I've seen with thousands of
RING-BILLED and BONAPARTE'S GULLS. A few HERRING GULLS are around as well as is
the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL reported last Saturday. I pasted a few ebird
lists below for anyone interested in numbers. Good birding.
Adam D'Onofrio
Dinwiddie Co.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16308769 ;
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16309052 ;
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16309265 ;
