Greetings all - 
Between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. a group of folks conducted a lakewatch from the high bluff of Sunset Park in Willoughby. Strong NNE winds with unrelenting rain and a slow movement of birds along the lakeshore pushed some of us to Fairport Harbor and some to Conneaut. Fairport Harbor was slow, with few gulls in the harbor, which befuddled us since the winds were raging at 20 to 30 mph. Meanwhile, back at Sunset Park, Jerry Talkington saw a single intermediate PARASITIC JAEGER pass to the east, chasing a Herring Gull. While some of us headed west towards Cleveland, Gabe Leidy and Emil Bacik called to report four AMERICAN AVOCETS and 7 White-rumped Sandpipers at Conneaut. 
Four of us arrived at Rocky River Park in Rocky River around 11:00 a.m. Winds were still mach 20-30 mph out of the NE and steady rain hampered our view. Within a short period of time, the last front moved through and cleared the skies and the mist off of the lake. It revealed birds moving in strong numbers and steadily east, at the horizon. Double-crested Cormorants were moving en masse, and solid numbers of Canada Geese, Northern Pintail, and Blue-winged Teal were on the move as well. Ring-billed and Herring Gulls numbered, together, in the thousands. Nearly 100 Bonaparte's Gulls passed but in small groups of 5 to 10 at a time. At 12 noon, two (2) adult LONG-TAILED JAEGERS pushed by together, coursing low over the water, cutting through the wind. It was stunning to see a lack of primary flash in the underwing; both displayed solidly dark underwings. Slender, sleek and long-rear-ended birds. Sharp, tern-like buoyant but determined flight. Dark upperwings and underwings contrasted with a pale belly and underparts. Within a few minutes, a juvenile PARASITIC JAEGER (dark/intermediate) passed by, heading east as well. Not long after, four BRANT put on a show flying east up over the horizon, against a light and rainless sky, offering brilliant close scope views. The final icing to the cake was a single HUDSONIAN GODWIT that cruised low over the water, heading east. 
By 1 p.m., activity quieted and slowed significantly, with only several hundred Ring-billed and Herring Gulls moving east/west, but large numbers of waterfowl and cormorants still moving by, nearly out of sight over the horizon. 
Raptors today included: 2 Peregrines (going west) at Sunset and one at Rocky River Park, Merlins at Conneaut (Leidy), an Osprey at Fairport (west) and one at Rocky River (west) and multiple Bald Eagles at each location. 
SCOPES WERE NECESSARY. 
Tomorrow's NNW winds at 10-20 mph may bring another push of waterbirds across the Lake. Best times to be out: dawn till noon, with a high-time of movement falling between 8:30 and 11 a.m.
High bluffs are best for viewing: Rocky River Park (has restrooms), Sunset Park (no restrooms), Lakewood Park (has restrooms), Miller Road Park at Avon Lake Powerplant (has restrooms)...
good luck out there. jb




Jen Brumfield 
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Cleveland, Ohio
330-701-6452
                                          
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