Date: 2/19/26 7:19 pm From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Feb 19 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Feb 26 Plans
Birding is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. (Tip of the hat to Forrest Gump.) Such was the case this morning for the Thursday Birding Meetup at Myer's Point. Fourteen birders gathered to check out the usual waterfowl and it was indeed a ducky day. We saw ten species of ducks including long tailed and white winged scoters along side rafts of redheads, mallards and common goldeneyes. Mergansers were out in force, with common, hooded and one redbreasted at a distance. An eagle flushed ducks and gulls, and as they settled down, we were excited to see a glaucous gull in the mix! A nice surprise and a life bird for some of us! Our typical woodland birds were out and about as we made our way down to the Lansing Harbor marina area, including pileated woodpeckers. Some more surprises awaited us as we found a dead swan on the shore and then experienced a dramatic view of a merlin swooping in and then perching near us with its tail feathers fully fanned out. Just WOW! The merlin gave us a very good long look as it held its pose gazing down on us. Indeed, you never what you're gonna get! We ended up with 30 species, pretty good for a foggy winter morning on the lake (thanks for ebird, Tracy McLellan <https://www.facebook.com/groups/423723264332161/user/100000604080233/?__cft__[0]=AZYrt3UixrU20i7DEF01fTbuSbOdHOld9SXrl974GIMs75YocpZ67o2m0o9Tqhzao7se1RgUk16zWWVQTZQOqfkYgA8gylWKISvBPdhkpaSUn8cgyKwYRqDVKu9Yfa9EdS8peYnu2OJtUtSR_9p3B0-v&__tn__=-]K-R>). Eleven of us enjoyed breakfast at Kendal and a personal tour of the current art show that features photos from Ken Haas and quilts from Tracy McLellan <https://www.facebook.com/groups/423723264332161/user/100000604080233/?__cft__[0]=AZYrt3UixrU20i7DEF01fTbuSbOdHOld9SXrl974GIMs75YocpZ67o2m0o9Tqhzao7se1RgUk16zWWVQTZQOqfkYgA8gylWKISvBPdhkpaSUn8cgyKwYRqDVKu9Yfa9EdS8peYnu2OJtUtSR_9p3B0-v&__tn__=-]K-R>. A lovely way to end an eventful birding morning! Want to join us next Thursday? All birders are very welcome! We are continuing to focus on lake birding with Taughannock State Park as our destination for February 26. Meet us at 7:30 am at the parking lot on the lake side. From Ithaca, travel north on Route 89. Turn right into the parking area before the bridge. If you would prefer to avoid the state park fee, meet some of us at 7:15 am to carpool from the Ithaca Children's Garden parking lot on Turtle Lane (turn left off Route 89 as you approach Cass Park). Shelley Page *she/they/ki*
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/2065380867 "All that you touch you Change. All that you Change changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change." Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower
