December 4 - Western New York

A long ride today to western New York with friends Rob and Simon brought some great birds. The target bird was a Lewis' Woodpecker. This is a species I recently missed while in California a few weeks ago. In fact I had searched almost 3 hours on & around Mesa Grande Road without any luck.
So, given another chance to try for it I was fine with the 4.5 hour drive !  Fortunately we were able to see the bird & to see it well from inside the homeowner's kitchen , as well as, outside the house a bit later.  Quite the beauty, and well worth this effort

credit: Ed N.


Afterward we drove to Cayuga Lake and were able to sustain the snow squall and get nice looks at a male King Eider there.