Chirps and Cheeps

A Photo Journal of My Birding Experiences & Observations

My birding blog site


  Red-throated Loon at Sinking Ponds

Published: June 01, 2012
Tags: Life List Happenings, Red-throated Loon, Belted Kingfisher, Great-Blue Heron, Wood Duck, Canada Goose, Red-winged Blackbird, Sinking Ponds, East Aurora, NY

Our bird list received a report of a Red-throated Loon at Sinking Ponds in neighboring East Aurora, NY.  In spite of the dismal forecast, I decided to plan for an early morning attempt to find this life-list addition.  I was at Sinking Ponds just before 6:30 AM and spotted the loon right away.  Beautiful!  I never got a very good photo of it, but my binoculars gave me wonderful views.

As I hiked around the pond hoping to find a heron, I not only got some very nice views of 3 Great Blues, but I had a prolonged study of a female Belted Kingfisher.  I have really been so hoping to see one of these cool, cool birds again!  This beauty perched and fished for a very long time and I enjoyed every minute of it.  She was actually the highlight of my morning - especially when she caught a minnow in the pond and I got to watch the whole thing!  Her rattling call was what first tipped me off to her presence - a sound I'll not soon forget from my very first sighting of a Belted Kingfisher at Amherst State Park.  I didn't get any photos on that trip, but I blogged about my experience here: Amherst State Park - Warblers!.

Other than the Great Blue Herons, the Belted Kingfisher, my life list addition of the Red-throated Loon, I also got to see those beautiful Wood Ducks again, some Canada Goose, and of course, the ubiquitous Red-winged Blackbird and American Robin.  I heard a Northern Flicker but never did lay eyes on him.

The 2 photos of the Red-throated Loon are a little embarrassing to post because of their very poor quality, but I'm adding them anyway just to prove I saw this guy!  I wish it hadn't been such a drippy, rainy morning and that he had come a lot closer to where I was.  This guy likes the middle of the pond!

blog photo
Red-throated Loon

blog photo
Red-throated Loon and a Great Blue Heron (upper right)

blog photo
Great Blue Heron

blog photo
Great Blue Heron

blog photo
Great Blue Heron gliding to the other side of the pond

blog photo
Great Blue Heron gliding away

blog photo
Female Belted Kingfisher

blog photo
Female Belted Kingfisher

blog photo
Wood Duck

blog photo
Wood Duck




  Go Back Go to Top  

button link to my bird search