Wonderful Waterfowl
Palos, IL
Sunday 25 November 2018
40 °F
Yesterday, after I saw a report of Long-tailed Ducks and a Red-necked Grebe at the Saganauskee Slough in the Palos area, I couldn’t resist the urge to go find these aquatic species. Thanks to my mom for driving me both ways!!!
I was particularly keen on finding the grebe since it would be a prospective life bird.
Sure enough, as soon I arrived, there were other birders who quickly got me on seven LONG-TAILED DUCKS:
Then, I spent the rest of the time scanning for the grebe. It was a beautiful afternoon:
COMMON MERGANSER:
Ok, here is an identification puzzle — what is the small, merganser-like bird on the left? Note its small size, though, when compared with an actual merganser (right): Update: I believe it’s a HOODED MERGANSER!
COMMON GOLDENEYE:
And a very nice find, a far-off WHITE-WINGED SCOTER:
Bird-of-the-day to the Long-tailed Ducks and runner-up to the White-winged Scoter. A wonderful day of duck watching, thanks again to Mom!
Stay tuned — Tuesday morning I will probably be birding again in New York, most likely in search of Purple Sandpipers which have been found recently along the Brooklyn shoreline.
Good birding,
Henry
World Life List: 956 Species
