Spring Migrants at Little Tupper Lake
Early spring is a great time for birding in the Adirondacks. Birds are in their bright nesting plumage, they are singing like crazy, and it's a lot easier to see small birds before the leaves come out. By late April, many of the migrants that nest here have returned and it is also a great time to see migrants that are just passing through. Camping at Little Tupper Lake (William C. Whitney Wilderness) during the week of April 20th I saw all the usual suspects along two species that nest much further north.
Paddling up the lake on my way out I noticed a group of ducks on the water. I had seen Black Ducks and Buffleheads in that same area the day before, but these birds didn't look like either of those. Unfortunately, my binoculars had been unwisely packed in the bottom of a dry bag so I couldn't get a good look. However, I had a long lens on my camera and snapped a few quick shots. Back home, after blowing up the images, I was pleasantly surprised to find that these were Horned Grebes. These small Grebes generally nest in central and northern Canada so they had a long ways to go. The only time we see them here is when they take a break on their long migration.
Horned Grebes; I couldn't make them out while I was on the water but the picture (and others that I took) leave no doubt.
The second surprise was found in a picture I snapped of a group of gulls perched on a big rock. This is a spot much beloved by herring gulls and even though I snapped a couple of shots I didn't pay close attention. Later I watched a flight of white birds circle and come in for a landing on the lake but they also were too far off for an identification. They looked like gulls, but even at a distance I knew they were too small for herring gulls. Again, I snapped a couple of quick shots. It was only later looking at the images that I realized that these were probably Bonaparte's Gulls. I still was not sure however, and it was the images of the gulls on the rock that firmed up the id. Among the herring gulls were two small gulls with jet black heads and bright red legs. No doubt about it, those are Bonaparte's Gulls.
Keeping my binoculars handy would have helped but now I'm going to feel like I should take pictures of every bird I see, even if I think I know what they are. Oh boy.
Herring Gulls with two Bonaparte's Gull bottom right.
Herring Gulls perch love this rock in the middle of Little Tupper Lake.
The loons are back on Little Tupper (and throughout the region). Based on what I heard and saw there are at least three pairs and very likely more.
A pair of Buffleheads. As far as I know these birds do not nest at Little Tupper Lake, but they are commonly seen in both spring and fall.
