Mon 5 Apr 2010
Rough-winged Swallows at Rock Cut SP
Posted by Dan Williams under Bird Sightings , Rock Cut State Park1 Comment
I drove through Rock Cut SP around 3:00 p.m. on my way to a meeting elsewhere. The lake was full of boaters, paddle-wheelers, kayaks, etc., but a few birds were also present. Most notable were 6 Rough-winged Swallows, new migrants to the area this spring. They were flying around with a much larger number of Tree Swallows, which are continuing to build in numbers.
No sign of the Osprey that Steve Gent saw this morning, but 2 Bonaparte’s Gulls were on the lake (and flew off while I was watching), about 12 Ruddy Ducks, some Buffleheads, 1 Ring-necked Duck, and a couple of Pied-billed Grebes.
April 8th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I was out at Rock Cut this morning from 0830 and saw the male Surf Scoter from the fisherman’s pier. It was asleep with Ruddies, Lesser Scaup and Horned Grebe. There was a large mixed flock of Barn, Tree and Bank Swallows ( I saw the breast bad clearly) , I did not positively ID any Rough-wingeds, although the light was not good. I also saw the Osprey from Bay View lookout, as John Longhenry . There was allso a Grebe which could have been a Red-necked but am not entirely convinced, as I couldn’t get close enough for a good view. Lots of Pied-billed’s on Pierce. I also saw a few Lesser Scaup on Olson and more Pied-bills plus a male Eastern Bluebird, the first one I have seen in RCP this year.