Rare Bird Alert - Feb. 4, 2010

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Thursday February 4, 2010

Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report sightings. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200.

Waterfowl were the highlight of reports received January 28 through February 4 from the Niagara Frontier Region.

Abundant waterfowl continue on the upper Niagara River off Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island. January 29, a mixed flock of over 10,000 SCAUP, CANVASBACK and REDHEADS, a dense flock of 6000 CANVASBACKS, and thousands of COMMON MERGANSERS and COMMON GOLDENEYES scattered among the ice floes. February 2 at Beaver Island, 271 TUNDRA SWANS and 71 GREAT BLUE HERONS, plus 2 BALD EAGLES. BALD EAGLES also reported nearby on the Beaver Island Parkway and the park golf course.

Also February 2, in Tonawanda at the Mid-river Marina on River Road, 26 LESSER SCAUP and an AMERICAN COOT. At Goat Island in Niagara Falls, New York, 30 GADWALL, 3 AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL and 2 HOODED MERGANSERS, plus ICELAND GULL and 2 L. BLACK-B. GULLS. Also at Goat Island - BROWN CREEPER, GOLDEN-CR. KINGLET, 20 AMERICAN ROBINS and WHITE-THR. SPARROW.

January 30 in the Iroquois Refuge, a pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS on Feeder Road near Route 77, and 2 BALD EAGLES near the nest at Cayuga Pool.

NORTHERN SHRIKE, January 30, at the towers on Warner Hill Road in the southern Erie County Town of Wales.

Other reports - PEREGRINE FALCON atop the south Grand Island bridges. A pair of WOOD DUCKS wintering with 75 MALLARDS on Ellicott Creek at St. Rita's Lane by the UB Amherst Campus. And a WHITE-THR. SPARROW at a feeder on Grand Island.

Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, February 11. Please call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may report sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and reporting to Dial-a-Bird.