Paul Glass and I birded around Kerr Reservoir in Mecklenburg Co. today. We also
had the pleasure of running into Arun Bose and Ellison Orcutt at Tailrace Park
around noon. Highlight was 2 scoter species. The first, a female WHITE-WINGED
SCOTER, was at Palmer Point Day Use Area directly out from the point. The
second was a female SURF SCOTER associating with a male LESSER SCAUP just above
the dam. There was not a lot of waterfowl on the lake overall but two "very
uncommon" COMMON MERGANSERS, both drakes, were a treat. In the ten years that
I've birded this area, these are the first Common Mergs I've seen on the lake.
Also, the small group of GREATER SCAUP and the hen COMMON GOLDENEYE continued
in the cove around the bend from the dam. The Spotted Sandpipers at Tailrace
Park were not seen today for the first time this winter and gulls were scarce.
OSPREY have returned. We saw three. Good to see them back.
Adam D'Onofrio
Dinwiddie Co.
