Date: 3/12/26 3:50 pm From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] March 12 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Next Week Plans
Sometimes the star sighting of the morning is a mammal, even though today's Thursday Birding Meetup at Allan Treman State Marine Park was, of course, focused on birds. We saw two minks, including a curious one that walked right up to us, charming us all with a really close look at this usually shy creature. A nice little surprise for our chilly birding morning. Fifteen of us put on our winter gear yet again and saw 21 species (thanks for ebird, Tracy McLellan <https://www.facebook.com/groups/423723264332161/user/100000604080233/?__cft__[0]=AZZDVjziiW5f9G-jpK__RrvXHpk18bSAjng7KLvMSgK24xzHPGZGyZVdd56zKYWpCh7M5LshPPVDIonhJc2HxCLoDorcQFv-IjvMVe28_S7d-LO1T-H0cs-ZpDQjHh6R3rPTkjgj__YqigJsqPFfRcYz&__tn__=-]K-R>). We were on the lookout for any returning migrants and did see red-winged blackbirds, grackles, robins and a small murmuration of starlings. Otherwise, the usual ring-billed and herring gulls (with two Great Black-backs) were hanging out on the docks. The inlet and nearby lake area featured several common and hooded mergansers along with a smattering of other ducks. American and fish crows were out and about, reminding us "oh yeah, what's the difference, again?" We got excited about a merlin that flew into a nearby white pine tree but it seemingly disappeared, much to our disappointment. Ah well. We warmed up at breakfast, trying out Modern Ohana, the new incarnation of Mix, a spot with quite the creative Hawaii-inspired breakfast/brunch menu. Want to join us next week? Thursday March 19, we'll gather at Sapsucker Woods at 7:30 am to see who's hanging out at the Lab of O. All birders are warmly welcome to bird with us, and join us for breakfast afterward, if your schedule allows. Directions from Ithaca: Take Route 13 North and turn right on Sapsucker Woods Road. We'll meet in the parking lot near the Visitor's Center. 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
