Chirps and Cheeps

This year, however, has been entirely different.  For the first time that I know of, there have been multiple sightings already this winter.  I don't know what's causing more of these Arctic geese to visit Erie County, but it's very nice of them!

I chased a couple of reports of these small, dark geese.  Both reports were from Grand Island - a single goose and a group of four.  I had no luck in at least three, maybe four searches until last Friday, when I finally found the group of four at Beaver Island SP (many thanks to birder, Josh Ketry, who offered some search tips).  A little later on in the day, I found my own group - this time a whole lot CLOSER and there were ten of them!  It's always especially rewarding to come upon your own sighting.  These geese must have just dropped in for a couple hour visit as I heard they weren't there later in the afternoon when others tried to find them.

This species of goose breeds in the tundra and once in awhile, during migration, we infrequently get to see them.  According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (see their range map), their migration route doesn't even come through the Western New York region.  So, it's a fortunate day when we DO get a visit!

After finding the two sets of geese, I took my time at Beaver Island SP and enjoyed birding there for a few hours altogether.  I saw quite a few birds that day, including a lot of waterfowl, several Tundra Swans (even a Mute Swan), three Bald Eagles soaring in the sunshine overhead, a Belted Kingfisher, and a surprisingly large flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds.  Blackbirds must be on the move, which is a sure sign of spring!

The next day, I came upon a few Pine Siskins as I headed through Emery Park on my way southward.  Along the way, I also saw my first of the year (FOY) Common Grackle - another blackbird on the move!  Later that same day, I stopped at Sturgeon Point and had a flock of about 40 Red-winged Blackbirds flyover.  I think I'm convinced now that spring will be here soon, in spite of the weather.

And the weather - ugh!  We had a huge, two-day wind storm a couple of days ago, with gusts reaching as high as 75 mph in some areas.  Great mounds of ice is piled high from the crashing waves that deposited broken-up chunks along the shore of Lake Erie.  I did a little birding yesterday along the lake just to see what things looked like.  I was amazed at some of the sights; I'm including a few photos taken with my cell phone from Woodlawn Beach SP.  Thankfully, throughout the day, I saw that lots of bird life remains and our feathered friends seem to have made it through those icy blasts.  It's certainly never dull living in Western New York!