Paul Glass and I birded around Kerr Dam today before the rain set in. We were
also joined by Mary Foster later in the morning. Highlights included a PACIFIC
LOON at Palmer Point Day Use Area. The bird was not off the point but back in
the cove to the left of the boat ramp. This is the 8th year out of the last 10
that we have seen this species at this location. We speculate that it may be
the same bird returning year after year but it has certainly become much harder
to find these past few years. It was good to see it today, almost 2 years since
our last sighting. Another highlight was the number of RED-NECKED GREBES at
Palmer Point. They were in groups and we conservatively counted 58 birds in
these groups. We added an additional 2 on the lake above the dam. Not much
waterfowl on the lake today but still numbers of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, some
scaup, mostly GREATERS, BUFFLEHEADS and a couple of RUDDY DUCKS. HORNED GREBE
numbers have plummeted but many were showing some nice colors. Three
RED-THROATED LOONS were also noted. We picked up some FOY swallows including
single PURPLE MARTIN and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS and a seemingly early CLIFF
SWALLOW, although the Cliff Swallows down there tend to return early. The
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and SPOTTED SANDPIPER that have been down there all
winter continued. I pasted a few ebird list below that have some photos for
those interested. Good birding.
Adam D'Onofrio
Dinwiddie Co.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17568773 ;
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17569046 ;
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17569228 ;
