For the past couple of weeks I have been sort of playing a hunch and stopping by Indian Kill Reservoir on my way home from work. Today it paid off when I located a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER in the distance. The bird was distant and it was rainy and gray, but I was able to get some decent documentary shots of the bird, which made me happy. For those who don’t know, Indian Kill Reservoir is located at the intersection of Route 17A and Long Meadow Road (which is the road that leads to the Sterling Forest State Park Visitor’s Center). The best viewing is from the various pull offs on Long Meadow Road. White-winged Scoter is my 196th bird in Orange County this year… creeping towards 200 with less than a month left in the year.
It’s also worth mentioning that Wickham Lake has been decent lately as well – I had a Common Loon there last night, and a Common Goldeneye there on 11/25/15.
Nice find Matt, I still need all the scoters for Orange, I’d better check out those lakes, John
Thanks John, it was nice to get a good bird, it feels like it has been a while! Matt
Nice shot for a dreary day, Matt.
I like to take shots, too, even if they are gray. It kind of makes me feel like I really did see that bird.
Wilma
Me too Wilma. I have photos of the loon that was at Wickham – a little black spec! Matt
Congratulations on finding such a great bird in Orange County, Matt! Glad your hunch paid off! Glad you were able to get such a great photo on such a cold gray drizzly day.
Thanks Kathy! Now if I could get all (or more!) of my hunches to pay off…. Matt