Today's movement was excellent in numbers, and as for diversity today's flight was almost, if not, unmatched in my experience at Avalon. Scoters were moving strongly all day, with Blacks being by far the dominant species. Red-throated Loons were also streaming by continuously all day long, and good showings were turned in by Red-breasted Merganser and Common Eider.
The highlights were many, and any one of them would normally have made my day. The combination of them, especially in conjunction with such a steady flight, made it perhaps the most enjoyable day of counting I've had at Avalon. Here were the highlights that stick out in my memory right now (with the 3 best saved for last): A two bird flock comprised of a single Hooded Merganser and a single Red-breasted Merganser, the first 3 Common Goldeneye of the season, singles of Long-tailed Duck thrice (my first of the season, although they've been seen here for over a week now by Steve), a whopping 19(!) Redhead, a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake going by at relatively close range in good light, and a Razorbill amidst a flock of Scoters in the stunning afternoon light.
Total individuals counted: 33,700
Complete eBird list below, with data sheet birds in bold.
Location: Avalon Seawatch
Observation date: 11/3/10
Number of species: 57
Brant (Atlantic) 32
Canada Goose 5
Wood Duck 55
Gadwall 1
American Wigeon 5
American Black Duck 52
Mallard 4
Northern Shoveler 8
Northern Pintail 12
Green-winged Teal 118
Redhead 19
Greater Scaup 34
Lesser Scaup 9
Common Eider 11
Surf Scoter 6942
White-winged Scoter 65
Black Scoter 16998
Surf/Black Scoter 842
scoter sp. 668
Long-tailed Duck 3
Bufflehead 8
Common Goldeneye 3
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 28
duck sp. 1
Red-throated Loon 703
Common Loon 20
Horned Grebe 2
Northern Gannet 2665
Double-crested Cormorant 3846
Great Cormorant 9
Great Blue Heron 15
Turkey Vulture 7
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Black-bellied Plover 3
American Oystercatcher 2
Ruddy Turnstone 2
Sanderling 12
Black-legged Kittiwake 1
Bonaparte's Gull 8
Laughing Gull 16
Ring-billed Gull 181
Herring Gull 233
Great Black-backed Gull 7
Forster's Tern 26
Royal Tern 22
Razorbill 1
Rock Pigeon X
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
European Starling 200
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
House Finch 1
Pine Siskin 6
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow X
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