Despite an during cover of hard snow, and ongoing frigid temperatures of a single-degree extent, many sorts of waterfowl continue to appreciate Carter Lake waters.
View of the west pool at Carter Lake. December 29, 2012.
Most of this oxbow lake has been ice covered for the past ten days, but two portions south of what was formerly the beach still have swimmable water for ducks, geese, grebes, and a merganser. The species have been readily viewed from the peninsular point to the west, on the lake shore.
Common Name | 25 Dec | 26 Dec | 29 Dec | 1 Jan | 2 Jan | 4 Jan |
Greater White-fronted Goose | - | - | 4 | - | - | - |
Snow Goose | - | - | 4 | - | - | - |
Cackling Goose | - | 17 | 4 | - | 3 | - |
Canada Goose | 1250 | 1400 | 1525 | 1750 | 500 | 2100 |
Trumpeter Swan | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 |
Gadwall | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
Mallard | 300 | 200 | 250 | 225 | - | 190 |
Northern Shoveler | 85 | 350 | 75 | 165 | 6 | 275 |
Northern Pintail | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
Canvasback | 30 | 30 | 23 | 37 | - | 15 |
Redhead | 12 | 8 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 15 |
Ring-necked Duck | 10 | 4 | 5 | 6 | - | 5 |
Lesser Scaup | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 6 |
Common Goldeneye | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | 2 |
Hooded Merganser | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Ruddy Duck | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | - |
Wild Turkey | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
Pied-billed Grebe | - | 2 | 3 | 1 | - | 3 |
Bald Eagle | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Red-tailed Hawk | - | 1 | 4 | - | 1 | 1 |
American Coot | 6 | 50 | 38 | 90 | 50 | 65 |
Red-bellied Woodpecker | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
Downy Woodpecker | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
Blue Jay | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
American Crow | - | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
Black-capped Chickadee | - | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
White-breasted Nuthatch | - | - | 2 | - | - | - |
American Robin | - | 2 | - | - | - | 11 |
European Starling | 18 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 28 |
American Tree Sparrow | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
Song Sparrow | - | - | 4 | - | - | - |
Harris's Sparrow | 2 | - | - | 3 | - | 2 |
Dark-eyed Junco | 45 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 16 |
Northern Cardinal | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
House Finch | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
American Goldfinch | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - |
The fowl situation attracted other sorts, including birders. Personally, four visits were done between December 25th and January 4th. Two other Omaha bird guys also visited; Justin Rink on December 26th, and Jonas Grundman on January 2nd, as reported at on an online forum available to the public, and also to ebirds.
It is an interesting array of birdly observations. Three observers on different dates, and with variable results on numbers and species, and even the designated locality.
During each of my visits, observations were denoted specifically to Carter Lake, Levi Carter Park, Northwest Pond at Levi Carter Park, Wavecrest Park and Shoreline Golf Course, and maybe at Kiwanis Park though with the frozen waters, there are hardly any birds present.
Mr. Rink attributed each of his observations to Carter Lake, though he certainly was within Levi Carter Park during the visit.
And, based upon this report, how a chickadee, sparrow or junco might occur at Carter Lake — a barren, frozen lake — is certainly beyond some extent of understanding. Obviously it is easier to report records for one site, rather to make a distinction.
The report by Mr. Grundman, is wrought with problems. His online reporting was indicated as occurring at Boyd Park. There is no Boyd Park in the vicinity. In discussing that name with the care-taker of Levi Carter Park, he did not know of any site around the lake which has this name. Perhaps the gentleman was referring to the ball field westward of the lake, where it would require a hundred foot tower, just to get a glimpse of the lake waters.
This observer also did not take enough time to denote all of the species present, as blatantly obvious in his report. There was no indication of any Mallards, which are usually always present. The number of Canada Goose listed was dramatically below other reports during the period considered. A regular resident, the Canvasback, obvious in its splendor, was not noted. Neither was the Redhead or the Common Goldeneye. The overall tally was thirteen species, in comparison to the otherwise reporting of 17 or 23 or 25 or 19 or 20 species. Any effort can be appreciated, but a lackadaisical effort, that is something different.
It seems that this report was submitted only because of the occurrence of the swans, rather than an effort to convey an accurate depiction of the many different species present.
In expressing an opinion, this report should be expunged from any online source, and the observer should give some thought to how to better present their observations.
Wonderful Waterfowl and Other Birdlife
Back to the mix of birds. From harsh cold to more temperate conditions, the birds at the water-holes of Carter Lake offer a glimpse that can be appreciated any day now.
The bird information indicated by the half-dozen visits, are of a number and variety sufficient to attract any urban birder in mid-winter.
The current highlight at the lake is the ongoing presence of Trumpeter Swans in all of their monochromatic manner. They are obvious in the basic white plumage, as obvious from a distance on the west side of the lake. On the 4th, they were "tipping" for food among the geese, or a couple then settled for a time on the adjacent ice.
There were no identification markers seen on any of the trio.
These magnificent birds were last known to occur at this lake, in the first-half of February, 2003; as well as later, in the same period of 1998 at Kiwanis Park.
Geese continue to be predominant. During surveys on four days, they were ignored at first, as more attention was given to seeing what smaller waterfowl were floating on the bit of water, or on the ice at its edge. There was at the least, an hour of observation time from a suitable vantage point, close enough to suitably see the species, but not at a point where they would be excessively disturbed. On the 4th, it was a day of light winds, and relative warmth, and the geese were certainly tipsy as they were top-side down, on their sides, or otherwise cleansing their feathers. They were certainly expressive.
Bald Eagle's typically cause a great panic when they wing past, overhead. At least one continues to be hanging around, certainly in search of something edible, especially among the others of its ilk expressively present.
New additions for this period of the year, based upon similar counts dating to the end of 2011, and subsequently, were the Snow Goose, Greater White-Fronted Goose and Hooded Merganser. Not seen, but which had been present on visits during these months in past couple of years, were the Gadwall and American Wigeon. Most recently, there has been an obviously lesser number of American Coots.
The four Red-tailed Hawks on the 29th was surprising, with two of them sitting atop trees on Bird Isle. These raptors are regularly seen, but usually just one or two.
On the 1st, a few hundred Canada geese were within the environs of Levi Carter Park, working to some grass to eat. Most of the ground was still snow-covered, though, forcing the fowl to dig for any sort of edible tidbit.
A new addition to the park space is a feeder and heated bird-bath at the residence of the park caretaker, on the west side of the lake. About there on the 1st, was a single House Finch, a couple of American Goldfinch, some Dark-eyed Junco, and nearby, a few Harris's Sparrow. It was a similar situation on the 4th. The caretaker, Randy Garlip, is learning to identify the visiting birds, and some suggestions have been provided. He has also realized how free food is a sure way to attract squirrels.
Overall, 36 species were recorded during the period.
On New Year's day, an ice-fisherman with his three-wheeled vehicle was going around on the ice, but not near enough to the birds to cause enough fright for them to take flight.
On the 4th, later in the afternoon, an itinerant with a bicycle walked along the shore where the birds were gathered, setting them to flight, according to a photographer on the scene. Another sort of disturbance are the occasional dog running around and not being on the required leash, and being allowed by their owner to chase the fowl, as if it is a fun sport. It should be noted that the north-central portion of the park is closed, and has been since late autumn, last year, and there are signs post in this regard.
Panorama of a portion of Carter Lake where the fowl gather.
These and other reasons certainly result in the flux in the extent of species and their numbers.
Three Trumpeter Swans at Carter Lake, along with a bunch of geese, ducks, coots and grebes. January 4, 2013.
Comparisons
On January 4th 2012 and 2013, overall, there were 30 species recorded; there being 25 in 2012 and 20 in 2013. There are some dramatic differences in the tally, including diversity and extent.
Bald Eagles on the north side of Carter Lake, in Levi Carter Park. December 29, 2012.