Waterfowl and Birds of Silver Lake

Silver Lake resident Ken Boyer has photographed and kept a record of his sightings of waterfowl and birds for many years. Select photos have been shared from time to time in our community newsletter. Thanks to the abundant “space” available on our website, Ken has shared more than 100 of his photos with the Silver Lake Community Association. Below is a list of birds and waterfowl, mostly by category, seen on Silver Lake over the past years as compiled by Ken in June 2014. Not listed are ordinary birds like the gold finches, robins, cardinals, etc. Photographs of most of these can be found in our Gallery.

WOODPECKERS

Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers

VULTURES

Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures

GEESE

Canada Geese with a few Brant Geese mixed in every now and then, Greater White-fronted Geese, Snow Geese

DUCKS

Mallard Ducks, Ruddy Ducks (both breeding and winter plumage, a stiff-tailed duck), American Black Ducks, American Wigeons, Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, Green-winged Teals, Blue-winged Teals, Northern Pintails, Canvasbacks, Redheaded Ducks, Greater Scaups, Lesser Scaups, Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, Black Scoters, Oldsquaws & a pair of Ruddy Shelducks who spent about a month and a half on Silver Lake.

GREBES & COOTS

Horned Grebes, Pied-billed Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, American Coot

MERGANSERS

Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers

SWANS

Tundra Swans with a few Trumpeter Swans mixed in every once in a while

HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS & CRANES

American Bitterns, Least Bitterns, Green Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons & a one time spotting of a single Sandhill Crane.

CORMORANTS

Double-crested Cormorants, Brandt’s Cormorants

HAWKS & ACCIPITERS

Sharp-shinned Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers, Ospreys, Bald Eagles and a one time spotting of a Golden Eagle.