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JOCASSEE WINTERBIRDS REPORT

I heard loons this morning, under a fine late fall sky. First a long, lonely wail at daybreak, coming from the Bootleg ramp area of the big water, then several hoots of loons gathering together, likely preceding a period of morning feeding. Yesterday morning I heard, ever so faintly, loons calling from well back in the Howard Creek arm of the lake, where the Howard Creek 7 spend their winter. It’s early for them, but one can hope! 30 loons in one big group were sighted yesterday as well, as loons are likely riding the winds of the coming cold front.

One eagle flew overhead at dawn this morning. A scattering of Horned grebes have been seen here and there, but no big numbers yet. Several Ring-billed gulls have been in the main basin, but not one Bonaparte’s gull yet, the sighing of which is the signal to me that fall migration is in full swing.