By Jacob Barringer
11/1/2025
8:00am – 9:30am birding, ~10:00-11:00 breakfast
Capitol Lake, north pool
Fully Overcast
Fluctuating between light and heavy rain
9 participants
Species seen:
- Mallard
- Canada Goose
- Greater Scaup
- Lesser Scaup
- Ring-necked Duck
- Bufflehead
- American Wigeon
- Canvasback
- American Coot
- Pie-billed Grebe
- Horned Grebe
- Short-billed Gull
- Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)
- Bald Eagle
- American Crow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Song Sparrow
- American Robin
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Dark-eyed Junco
On a blustery Fall morning, a group of 9 birders braved the wind and rain to see the assorted waterfowl in Capitol Lake’s north pool. We were joined by a handful of runners, taking part in the Gobbler run. The fowl in question were very cooperative, and displayed themselves freely, sometimes coming directly to the water’s edge. The expected assortment of Ring-necked ducks, Wigeons, and Coots were all plentiful, though not as many Mallards and Canada Geese as we can usually find. Among them were a few Greater and Lesser Scaups, allowing for a chance to discuss the subtle differences between them. Other highlights included a few Canvasbacks and a Horned Grebe that turned up in the raft on the far side of the lake, and a Bald Eagle making tentative dives towards ducks all over the lake. The damp outing ended with breakfast at the Spar.
Photo credit: American Coot, by Mick Thompson, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mickthompson/31007012135/in/photolist-2qkY296-BKxmfc-PeZ3rv-avNM2k-2qiHCpE-R8GzcU
