In early December, I went on a field trip around Cayuga Lake with my local birding club. The one thing that I really wanted to see were snow geese in high numbers. I’ve never witnessed the so called “Snow Goose spectacle” before
While looking at various duck species at North Mill Pond, we started to hear geese flying over head. Thousands of them started to fly west over us toward the lake. We headed further up and saw even more Snow Geese over the lake.
Snow Goose Spectacle
Then we hit the jackpot.
Snow Goose Spectacle
And they kept growing.
Snow Goose Spectacle
And more and more geese were constantly coming in.
We conservatively estimated twenty thousand geese total.
Snow Goose Spectacle
Within this group were many beautiful Blue Morphs.
Blue Morph Snow Geese
And then a boat disturbed them and they took off.
I had to stop the video short because I’ve always wanted a photo where the entire frame was full of flying geese! A true Snow Goose blizzard at last!!
Snow Goose Spectacle
Next time, I will bring two cameras – one for photos and the other for video!!
Today, two friends and I drove around the east shore of Cayuga lake in search of waterfowl – in particular an Eared Grebe and Tufted Duck. We had an exact location for the Grebe thanks to a local birder but we knew the Tufted Duck would be a challenge since it is mixed somewhere within the rafts of Aythya species around the lake.
We started at Allan H. Treman State Marine Park where the Grebe has been seen and were greated by a large raft of Redheads and other Aythya species. They were flushed up by the geese, but ended up landing right back where they came from, minus the skittish geese. We could not locate a Tufted Duck in this fairly close flock. (eBird Checklist)
Raft of Redheads and other Aythya sp.
Aythya flock
As soon as we set up our scopes, maybe ten yards in from the shore, we were surprised with beautiful looks at the very active Eared Grebe.
Eared Grebe
… who tried really hard to fit in with the Ruddy Ducks.
Eared Grebe with Ruddy Ducks
After spending over an hour with icicles for hands and feet, we headed farther north and saw more of the same types of rafts along with the usual Gulls. Our next real gem of a spot was on the northern end of the lake in Mud Lock. We had better looks at some of the duck species that we saw all along the lake. (eBird Checklist)
Gadwall
Ring-necked Duck
A nice surprise at this spot was having all three species of Swans – and being able to compare Trumpeter vs Tundra in one scope view.
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swans
We started off with a bang (and a life bird for me) but never did locate the Tufted Duck. Maybe next time…
