Birdwalk Highlights for 12/13: Broad Cove Preserve, Cumberland.

Winter is here, but we took advantage of the calm to enjoy waterbirds, visiting Broad Cove in Cumberland.

Landbirds were fairly sparse, with 3 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and 2 NORTHERN CARDINALS on the way down, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER both to and fro, but at the end of the point, a nice pocket of activity that included about 20 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 8 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, great looks at 2 BROWN CREEPERS, 2 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 2 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and 1 DOWNY WOODPECKER.

Down at the water, however, there was much to be seen. Our first local BARROW'S GOLDENEYE of the season was among a total of about 40 COMMON GOLDENEYES, but we had to practice our distance identification skills with this one.

Most of our other waterbirds were much closer, led by the 106 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS and total of 134 CANADA GEESE. Our remaining tallies included 75+ BUFFLEHEADS, 30 RING-BILLED GULLS, 26 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 20 HERRING GULLS, 19 MALLARDS, a goodly 9 COMMON LOONS, only 3 COMMON EIDERS, 2 SURF SCOTERS, and 2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS.