Bennington Lake Field Trip Results - October 19

Nine people participated in a walk around the lake on this crisp, clear morning.  The fall colors were beautiful and many nice birds were seen by the group.  The highlight of the walk was a flyover of seven tundra swans as we were returning to the parking lot.  They circled twice before heading off in a southerly direction.  We saw a total of 32 species with the highlights being:

    buffleheads

    western grebes

    greater yellowlegs

    fox sparrows

    Townsend's solitaires

    northern shrike

    yellow-rumped warblers

    ruby-crowned kinglets

    cedar waxwings

   

Bennington Lake

There were more winter arrivals at Bennington Lake on Tuesday, October 14.  We saw the first northern shrike of the fall, as well as a Wilson's snipe, three Townsend's solitaires, 37 white-fronted geese and a late common yellowthroat. 

 

Join us on Sunday for the field trip to see what else might be around.

Ginger

Bennington Lake birds

We watched and listened to a large flock of white-fronted geese circle and land on the lake as we were crossing the dam.  They were joined by 15 ring-necked ducks and the usual waterfowl - mallards, wigeons, green-winged teals and pintails.  Two western grebes continue to be present as well.  A turkey vulture circled the lake and red-tailed hawks seemed to be on the move - we saw eight of them.  The only shorebirds seen were five greater yellowlegs, one long-billed dowitcher and three killdeer.  Townsend's solitaires have returned - we saw and heard two of them singing at the north end of the lake.  It was another beautiful fall day - clear, crisp and colorful.

Ginger