Spring passed for winter on April 4, when the Delaware Otsego Audubon Society sponsored the annual waterfowl count. A hearty group gathered at the Cooperstown Village docks and continued up the lake in a clockwise manner, thankful for dock bubblers and some naturally open water, with Clarke Pond the final Otsego Lake destination. An unusual duck species, the Eurasian wigeon, was keeping company with an American wigeon: a unique opportunity to study both! Other waterfowl species included ring-necked, wood and black ducks, bufflehead, hooded, common and red-breasted mergansers, greater scaup, American coot, mallard, northern shoveler, and Canada goose. An immature bald eagle flew from a carcass on the ice, a few great blue herons persevered, and a Cooper’s hawk with kill flew over us at the Biological Field Station.
Summit Lake provided us with green-and blue-winged teal mingling with Canada geese.
A Wilson’s snipe was spotted on the way to the Chyle, where snow geese rested in a field with Canada geese. As we arrived, an American pipit landed in the road, bobbed its tail repeatedly, and flew off. A mixed flock of red-winged and rusty blackbirds sounded off close to the road.
Weaver Lake held two new waterfowl species: common goldeneye and lesser scaup.
Our expert leaders freely shared their knowledge with a diverse group. Please consider joining us next year!!
Becky Gretton, DOAS Board Member
