March 20, 2016  Hurshtown Reservoir

Fourteen members of Stockbridge Audubon Society enjoyed a somewhat slow, but still interesting cruise around Hurshtown Reservoir this afternoon. At times, we seemed to be just looking out over open water, but we did have good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers and Horned Grebes, and a very cooperative Common Loon that seemed to escort our caravan around the whole second half of the ride. We also saw a Red-tailed Hawk that was just starting the building process of a new nest. We had a group total of 25 species.

​Following is the list of species, with my best estimates of their numbers:

Canada Goose  4
Gadwall  4
Mallard  10
Lesser Scaup  6
Red-breasted Merganser  120
Common Loon  2
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Horned Grebe  10
Turkey Vulture  4
Red-tailed Hawk  2
American Coot  50
Killdeer  1
Bonaparte's Gull  6
Ring-billed Gull  30
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  12
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  2
American Robin  2
European Starling  15
Song Sparrow  6
Northern Cardinal  11
Red-winged Blackbird  4
Eastern Meadowlark  2
House Finch  2
House Sparrow  20

Thanks,

John Winebrenner