On February 2nd, 2013, YESC embarked on our first-ever field trip to the Waste Managment Mid-Atlantic Facility in Morrisville, PA. The purpose of the trip was to sharpen our gull identification skills in preparation for the World Series of Birding. Check out a video interview with our YESC President, Ben Bussmann, who summarizes what we got ourselves into:
Check out our stacked eBird checklist from the trip! Highlights include Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Bald Eagle, and some healthy totals of winter waterfowl:
Waste Management Landfill, Bucks, US-PA
Feb 2, 2013 10:00 AM - 2:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
11.0 mile(s)
Comments: Observed in Waste Management Facilities and surrounding area.
29 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose X
Gadwall 5
Mallard 10
Bufflehead 18
Common Merganser 7
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Accipiter sp. 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-tailed Hawk 4
American Coot 12
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Iceland Gull 4
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Glaucous Gull 2 Two first cycle birds showing bi-colored bill, pale legs, white wingtips, and very light brown and white mantle. Plumages noticeably lighter in color and were equivalent in size to surrounding immature herring gulls.
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 20
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Tufted Titmouse 4
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 1
To say the least, it was an excellent trip! A wonderful total that featured some life list birds for many people (myself included!) Yet again, another amazing YESC adventure!
- BQ
