The winds had finally (mostly) died down after well over a week of constant strong winds, so we were anxious to find out what had concentrated at our favorite local winter hotspot.
There was less ice on the coves than we hoped (likely in part due to the same gusty winds), and so waterbirds were widely dispersed. We did eventually find a total of 4 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES (2 males and 2 females), an uptick of one drake from recent weeks, but these were a little further out than we would have preferred.
Another highlight was the single SNOW BUNTING that flew right over head, and two BALD EAGLES also keeping an eye on the waterfowl numbers.
Tallies of the rest of the waterbirds included: 175 BUFFLEHEADS, 150 COMMON EIDERS, 113 MALLARDS, 68 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 60 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 35 HERRING GULLS, 34 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 19 RING-BILLED GULLS, 11 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 11 COMMON LOONS, 8 SURF SCOTERS, 1 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, and one good view of a RED-THROATED LOON.
We hit a very cooperative mixed-species foraging flock on our way back from the point, which consisted of at least 6 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 4 TUFTED TITMICE, 2 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 2 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 2 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and one each of DOWNY, HAIRY, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS.