With an increasing northwesterly wind and cold temperatures, we found shelter and lots of birds in our traditional "Town Landing Tour" that hits public waterfront access from Freeport through Falmouth.
Highlights today included an unusually close and cooperative RED-NECKED GREBE within the marina at the South Freeport Wharf, a BELTED KINGFISHER and two very close BALD EAGLES at the Yarmouth Town Landing, and a pioneering TURKEY VULTURE on the drive back.
We had 4 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS at the Yarmouth Town Landing and two RED-TAILED HAWKS on our drive, with a few of the expected resident species here and there.
But today was for waterbirds, and our tallies for all of our stops included: 270 BUFFLEHEADS, 102 MALLARDS, 81 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 68 HERRING GULLS, 52 COMMON EIDERS, 35 SURF SCOTERS, 20 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 20 RING-BILLED GULLS, 14 CANADA GEESE, 10 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 9 COMMON LOONS, 6 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, and 3 HORNED GREBES at the Falmouth Town Landing.