Birdwalk Highlights, 12/24: Town Landing Tour.

Even with temperatures only rising to 18F, and a very stiff wind blowing, we decided stay outside and swing for the fences by working sheltered (or as sheltered as possible) coves and overlooks hoping for storm-blown alcids in particular.

Traveling between the Freeport Town Wharf and the Falmouth Town Landing, we covered a series of sites, all of which had just enough shelter to make it tolerable, and birdable. Significant winds over the water and the resultant high chop, coupled with the heat shimmer minimized how far out we could see a small, hunkered-down seabird, however.

While we did not turn up any alcids today, we did have a very enjoyable morning of productive birding. Two hen GREATER SCAUP at Lower Falls Landing in Yarmouth were noteworthy. A really close HORNED GREBE off of the Falmouth Town Landing was nice, as were 4 BALD EAGLES between two sites.

MALLARDS (128) and AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS (49) were in good supply, but we couldn't tease out any unusual dabblers. Between all of our stops, other waterbird tallies included: 82 BUFFLEHEADS, 82 HERRING GULLS, 63 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 31 RING-BILLED GULLS, 15 CANADA GEESE, 11 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 10 COMMON EIDERS, 10 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 8 COMMON LOONS, and 8 SURF SCOTERS.

Landbirds were not our priority today, but we did have 3 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, a southbound flock of 34 AMERICAN ROBINS, and two RED-TAILED HAWKS among many others.