We spent most of the afternoon around the lake in Black Hills today. First,
the pair of bald eagles were perched on the dead tree by RT 121 overlook for
a long while.
At the boat ramp we saw a single male Northern Shoveler, some Ruddys,
Buffleheads and Mallards and a female Kingfisher, as well as an immature Great
Blue Heron. A fair number of turtles were out.
Other than the eagles, there wasn't much to see on the main lake from RT
121. There was a pair of swans on the opposite side, although at too great a
distance to be sure what they were -- probably Tundra? From the road, a
few Bufflehead and Ruddys were visible.
We went around to Ten Mile Creek and walked into the back end of the lake;
met someone who had seen the immature eagle. There were a large number
of American Black ducks, 3 or 4 pair of Hooded Mergansers, 2 or 3 pair of
American Widgeon, maybe 2 dozen Canvasbacks, a large group of RingNecks,
another large number of Bufflehead, and flotillas of Coots. Also, heard a
Pileated Woodpecker and at least one Kingfisher. |