Hoping the weather last night would push more waterfowl into BESP, Josh Lefever and I went to over from 6:30am till 8:30am. Apparently there must have been a break in the rain last night and most waterfowl had left the park. We were able to find 5 duck species and Common Loon and Horned Grebe, way down from yesterdays 12 duck species, way down from yesterdays 10 duck species. Nonetheless, it was a worthwhile trip, especially since when we stopped at Lower Greens Run I was scanning the far shore and spotted a dark blob that resembled a bear. Once I got it in the scope I realized it really was a large Black Bear, that was soon joined by another large Black Bear. Both sat on the shore line for a while and then wandered off into the forest.
Black bears
Horned Grebes
Bald Eagle (click for larger image)
Bald Eagle with fish
Bald Eagle with fish
Number of species: 17
Canada Goose 133 – 47 @ swimming beach that then flew to grassy area by the dam; 67 @ Lower Greens Run; 19 @ Hunter Run Launch; individual with strange spectacle-like markings on face was still present
Northern Shoveler 1 – 1 female @ swimming beach
Greater Scaup 1 – 1 female @ swimming beach; same individual as yesterday
Red-breasted Merganser 1 – 1 female-type @ swimming beach
Ruddy Duck 64 – 32 males and 32 female-type at various locations around the park, biggest raft was at Lower Greens Run
Common Loon 2 – 1 adult near BAEA nest, 1 adult @ Lower Greens; adult @ BAEA nest was vocalizing with full call!
Horned Grebe 7 – 7 adults @ swimming beach
Great Blue Heron 2 adults
Bald Eagle 4 – 2 adults @ nest, 1 3rd year near nest site, 1 4th year @ swimming beach; the 4th year was seen trying to catch carp, was successful but then dropped the carp and gave up
Red-tailed Hawk 1 adult
American Coot 150 – 20 near dam, 130 @ Hunter Run Launch
Killdeer 1 @ swimming beach
Bonaparte’s Gull 1 first winter bird flying around Lower Greens Run
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 male
Downy Woodpecker 1 female
American Crow 20
Eastern Bluebird 20