Birdwalk Highlights for 1/31: Winslow Park, Freeport.

Yes, with a starting temperature of -4F, we went to the frozen tundra of Winslow Park. But with close to no wind, the opportunity to view a large number of waterbirds in close proximity to to the still-open point was too good to turn down. And besides, it did rise all of the way to 14 degrees by the time we departed.

On the walk out, Michael spotted something furry in a crow nest, which turned out to be a pair of snuggling RACOONS! In the sun, fur fluffed, and face tucked, they were probably warmer than we were!

With the most ice in several years, I was a little disappointed by the over numbers of ducks and other waterbirds. However, we had great looks at the single remaining drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, and later, I teased out a rare "NORTHERN" COMMON EIDER (subspecies borealis)! The first for several in the group, this sometimes-distinctive subspecies was a real treat to see, although with one hen here for the last several winters, I was checking the mere 40-50 "regular" COMMON EIDERS very carefully.

Other waterbirds present included 59 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 52 HERRING GULLS, 16 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 15 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, a mere 10 BUFFLEHEADS, and 4 SURF SCOTERS. Landbirds were extremely limited today, and amounted to only 15 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 7 TUFTED TITMICE, 6 AMERICAN CROWS, 4 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 4 HOUSE FINCHES, 2 EUROPEAN STARLINGS, and one spiffy RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.

Hoping for a similar duck-filled hole of open water off of Cousin's Island, we headed over to Sandy Point, but found it frozen solid! There was some water - apparently full of birds, too, but it was over a mile away. There was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in the parking lot to add to the list, but species # 20 were two RING-BILLED GULLS in flight during our drive.