Seawatch – 15 November 2014

"Woo-wee! A rocking day here at the Avalon Seawatch! A lot of birds were on the move; the flight was non-stop all day long with several species moving in big numbers. Dabbling ducks had a strong movement today, and even though I didn't think so at the time, scoters had a strong flight with 8,265 recorded. Also Ring-billed Gulls really cranked up their flight, while the terns continue to slip away. However, the two main species of the day were Northern Gannet and Red-throated Loon. Robust totals for both species were recorded and I think the Gannet numbers may be the 3rd highest ever for Avalon. But the loons really stole the show. Coming by in concentrated waves several times over the course of the afternoon, there was a moment when the flight got so intense I couldn't tear my eyes away from the scope and was clicking loons so furiously yet still couldn't keep up, and had to have a fresh clicker put in my hand to start clicking by 10s! Truly one of my favorite moments so far this season! One final avian highlight was a pair of Cave Swallows that flew off the ocean and over the parking lot midday. I had been hoping to see some at the seawatch!" – S.H.

[Cave Swallow flying past the Seawatch. Photo by Skye Haas.]

Observation time: 0642 – 1710
Observer: Skye Haas

Species counted:
Canada Goose – 2
Brant – 43
Wood Duck – 16
American Black Duck – 137
Mallard – 8
Black Duck/Mallard – 14
Northern Pintail – 50
Green-winged Teal – 119
Ring-necked Duck – 2
Greater Scaup – 29
Lesser Scaup – 50
scaup, sp. – 77
Common Eider – 1
Surf Scoter – 453
White-winged Scoter – 3
Black Scoter – 4,095
Surf/Black Scoter – 3,398
scoter, sp. – 316
Long-tailed Duck – 11
Bufflehead – 77
Hooded Merganser – 11
Red-breasted Merganser – 15
duck, sp. – 214
Red-throated Loon – 9,572
Common Loon  – 49
loon, sp. – 1
Horned Grebe – 12
Northern Gannet – 9,628
Double-crested Cormorant – 855
Great Cormorant – 2
Great Blue Heron – 1
Great Egret – 3
Laughing Gull – 25
Bonaparte's Gull – 192
Ring-billed Gull – 755
Herring Gull – 303
Great Black-backed Gull – 17
Forster's Tern – 126
Royal Tern – 2

American Oystercatcher – 1
Black-bellied Plover – 35
Ruddy Turnstone – 2
Red Knot – 16
Sanderling – 200
Dunlin – 400
Purple Sandpiper – 15

Total: 30,684