A day fit for neither man nor beast, but okay for birders. Such was the weather for the RCAS Regulars and Rarities in the Champlain Valley field trip yesterday. This annual winter trip has experienced a variety of meteorological conditions – sub-zero temperatures, howling winds and even weather sunny and warm enough for a picnic. Not January 11, however. A surprising 15 participants turned out for the adventure.
Temperatures rising to just under 50 and a more than intermittent rain produced thick clouds of fog over the snow-covered fields. Road conditions were fine for driving, but parking areas were slick sheets of ice. The viewing of waterfowl on Lake Champlain was actually quite decent, but inland raptors appeared as pale apparitions.
Nevertheless, a total of 30 species, comprising 10 eBird checklists, was tallied. At Shelburne Point, Mallard and American Black Duck dabbled at the water’s edge while further out flocks of Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead bobbed in the water. A single female Red-breasted Merganser was also seen as well as an adult Bald Eagle soaring far out over an island.
More waterfowl was seen on Shelburne Bay from both Harbor Road and the fishing access. A handsome male Red-breasted Merganser was close enough for good viewing while Horned Grebes, six in all, were further out and three Hooded Mergansers hugged the opposite shore. A Canvasback was a highlight, seen from the fishing access, and a life bird for some. A second Bald Eagle, this one an immature, was sitting on the ice.
Shelburne Beach (Meach Cove) had the greatest waterfowl variety including Ring-necked Duck, both scaup and, best of all, a female Barrow’s Goldeneye.
The Charlotte Ferry landing produced another adult Bald Eagle, two Horned Grebe and three gull species – Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed.
The rest of the day was spent in what began to seem like a fruitless search for a Snowy Owl. A couple of passes along Route 17 between the goose viewing area and the West Addison General Store came up empty although an American Kestrel, a Rough-legged Hawk and two Red-tailed Hawks were seen. Finally, along Town Line Road in Bridport the bird we were all hoping for appeared. It was sitting atop a power pole where it remained long enough for everyone to have a good look before disappearing as a ghost in the fog.
Trip List: