October 26, 2014 Hurshtown Reservoir
Eleven people attended Stockbridge Audubon Society's field trip to Hurshtown Reservoir in NE Allen County this afternoon. We enjoyed sunny skies, warm temperatures, and a surprisingly nice diversity of waterfowl. Among our 13 species of duck, the clear highlight was one LONG-TAILED DUCK, initially found by Eric Helfrich but seen by all, including by some for which it was a lifer. We also noted our first SNOW BUNTINGS (2) of the fall. The higher numbers below are guesstimates:
Canada Goose- 100+; I didn't even guesstimate these, so this is probably way too low.
Gadwall- 8
American Wigeon- 2, a pair; some vocalizations prior to our drive around the reservoir
American Black Duck- 2
Mallard- 30; again, probably way too low
Northern Shoveler- 2
Canvasback- 2
Redhead- 7
Ring-necked Duck- 40
Lesser Scaup- 20
Long-tailed Duck- 1
Hooded Merganser- several noted by profile with binocs, but not found while scanning the mixed flocks with scopes
Red-breasted Merganser- 1
Ruddy Duck- 15
Common Loon- 1
Pied-billed Grebe- 5
Horned Grebe- 10
Double-crested Cormorant- 4
Bald Eagle- 3 (two adult, one imm.)
Eagle species- one bird, backlit and flying away, that initiated some discussion and wishes for a better look
Red-tailed Hawk- 2
American Coot- 450+
Killdeer- 7
Bonaparte's Gull- 20 or so
Ring-billed Gull- 50 or so (also 43 at the not-too-distant Cedarville Reservoir prior to the trip)
Herring Gull- 6
Rock Pigeon- a couple of flocks of 20 or so above the farm fields surrounding the property
Falcon species- a quick look at a small bird panicking a flock of starlings before it dove out of sight; this was as close as we got to a parrot on this outing
Blue Jay- 4
European Starling- several small flocks out over the fields
Snow Bunting- 2, our first of fall
White-crowned Sparrow- 2
Red-winged Blackbird- 50 or so in one small flock
House Sparrow- 5 at front gate
Canada Goose- 100+; I didn't even guesstimate these, so this is probably way too low.
Gadwall- 8
American Wigeon- 2, a pair; some vocalizations prior to our drive around the reservoir
American Black Duck- 2
Mallard- 30; again, probably way too low
Northern Shoveler- 2
Canvasback- 2
Redhead- 7
Ring-necked Duck- 40
Lesser Scaup- 20
Long-tailed Duck- 1
Hooded Merganser- several noted by profile with binocs, but not found while scanning the mixed flocks with scopes
Red-breasted Merganser- 1
Ruddy Duck- 15
Common Loon- 1
Pied-billed Grebe- 5
Horned Grebe- 10
Double-crested Cormorant- 4
Bald Eagle- 3 (two adult, one imm.)
Eagle species- one bird, backlit and flying away, that initiated some discussion and wishes for a better look
Red-tailed Hawk- 2
American Coot- 450+
Killdeer- 7
Bonaparte's Gull- 20 or so
Ring-billed Gull- 50 or so (also 43 at the not-too-distant Cedarville Reservoir prior to the trip)
Herring Gull- 6
Rock Pigeon- a couple of flocks of 20 or so above the farm fields surrounding the property
Falcon species- a quick look at a small bird panicking a flock of starlings before it dove out of sight; this was as close as we got to a parrot on this outing
Blue Jay- 4
European Starling- several small flocks out over the fields
Snow Bunting- 2, our first of fall
White-crowned Sparrow- 2
Red-winged Blackbird- 50 or so in one small flock
House Sparrow- 5 at front gate
