042120 Here We Are At Migrant Central

   041920                                              Bonaparte's Gulls

   042020                                                      Orchard Oriole

First day at the lake.  Baltimore Orioles were right behind, one of which was here near my residence before this oriole.

    
  042120                                                   Blue-winged Teal

There was a total of eleven of these at Boomer this morning.

                                                                 Savannah Sparrow

There were three on Shorebird Jetty alone.  There were five or six spotted.

                                                                  Least Sandpiper

Two on Shorebird Jetty.  Migration is quite active active with a lot to offer today.

                                                            Yellow-headed Blackbird

Six were fueling up on Shorebird Jetty, while these three took their time.

                                                                    Lesser Scaup

Still coming through the area.  The scaup were not far off the point of Shorebird Jetty when they took to the air.  They preferred settling on the east side of the jetty and were much closer by choice.

                                                                 American Avocet

This group of 35 arrived shortly before 0800 and as is their habit they made around six passes over the lake.  They were flushed a few times, by both a Bald Eagle and an Osprey, which you'll see shortly.

                                                                   Lesser Scaup

As can be seen, their plumage is very striking.  They were only twelve feet from the shore.

                                                                 Mallard Ducklings
                                                                   First of the Year

This is the first group that we've observe this year, obviously some were adopted.  There were eleven.  Mother and father are not far.

                                                                Mallard Ducklings
                                                                        View 2

                                                                Grasshopper Sparrow

It was surprising to see this sparrow up in a cottonwood tree near the water, a typical riparian area.
It must have been desperate for a rest and sustenance.

                                                              Great Blue Heron (Rear)
                                                       Double-crested Cormorants (Front)

Writer considered this a striking pose, something not seen every day.  The Great Blue Heron is a second year individual.

                                                                         Osprey

Pretty close, eh?  This raptor was in the area the entire morning.  It was spotted on the return trip.

                                                                    Green Heron
                                                                  "The Patriarch"

Before we called it a day, it was in order to check The Cove to see if Green Heron was here yet.  It was not disappointing.  Also made a swing by to see if the Summer Tanager arrived, but not quite yet.
The mulberry bush near here has berries just starting that were pollinated over the past ten days or so.

Overall this was an excellent birding day with 56 species in a four hour day.