Date: 11/9/24 1:04 pm From: Derek Courtney <derek.dana.courtney...> Subject: Cheat Lake Waterbird Report --- Mon. Co.
Hi, all!
Buffleheads are back, winter is upon us! Thus, once again time for the Cheat Lake Waterbird Report to begin again.
Temperatures were cool early in the morning but warmed up nicely with the autumn sun. Fishermen were out in force on the pleasant weekend, but the lake is low enough that they kept well north of the 68 bridge. Nothing unusual and not much in the way of diversity despite lower water levels usually allowing for more dabbling ducks to hang around. Best birds were probably more "mud" birds than waterbirds with some pipits working the sand bars and some late Dunlin taking advantage of the mud at Morgan Run. Waterbird totals below and full species list submitted to eBird.
Cheat Lake --- Cheat uplake marinas Canada Goose 168 Mallard 18 Bufflehead 13 Common Merganser 2 American Coot 6 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Bald Eagle 1 first year bird
Cheat Lake --- I-68 Bridge Canada Goose 8 Mallard 4 Ring-necked Duck 1 Bufflehead 5 American Pipit 15
Cheat Lake --- Sunset Harbor Mallard 7 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Belted Kingfisher 1
Cheat Lake --- Cheat Lake Park Canada Goose 12 Mallard 6 Bufflehead 10 Hooded Merganser 4 Dunlin 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Bald Eagle 1 Belted Kingfisher 2
