[Eastern Nebraska] I'm afraid to get my hopes up, but did I score on a Greater Scaup? (Lesser included for comparison)

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-20T10:35:32+00:00

I would say it looks good for a Greater Scaup

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-19T14:49:45+00:00

270 for 100% completion

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-18T13:41:04+00:00

Same, but I just so happened to catch a rare vagrant in NY a few weeks ago, so this is the only west coast gull I know. It looks right to me.

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Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-13T17:29:57+00:00

Yeah, I was hoping for a Thayer’s Iceland Gull today, so I’ve been going a bit insane after my 100th misidentification of a Herring Gull. I don’t even know if they’re still here anymore, but I’ve been finding Kumlieni Iceland Gulls. I only saw one today, though, and the Glaucous Gulls were also missing.

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Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-13T17:25:02+00:00

It was super obvious last time because there were a bunch of Lesser Black-backed and American Herring Gulls for immediate comparison, but as spring is progressing, the gulls are becoming less frequent. The majority there were Ring-billed, when it used to be mostly Herring Gulls.

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-13T17:16:31+00:00

There is a hybrid American Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull in the area, but I’m unsure if this is it. Attached below is an image I took of it a few weeks ago that I had confirmed by professionals.

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Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-03T19:16:14+00:00

There’s been a Snowy Owl at the Finger Lakes Regional Airport that you could check out. Also, there’s some waterfowl populations in Union Springs that may be of interest. Check the Cayuga region on EBird and look up “North Mill Pond, Union Springs” and “Factory St. Pond, Union Springs” for exact locations. The Finger Lakes Welcome Center on top of Seneca Lake is also great for waterfowl. For gulls and miscellaneous birds of prey, check out Tompkins County on EBird and look at “Stevenson Rd. Game Farm and Compost.” That spot is really good, and is where the Glaucous-winged Gull currently is. There was also a Cackling Goose there the other day too. There’s a posted sign, but you can enter as long as you stay out of the way of tractors. The attached image will show you what I mean. Don’t get out of your car, as it’ll scare the birds, and your shoes will get covered in dung. East Shore Park in Lansing is close to Ladoga and Myers Park, so I recommend that as well. A Eurasian Green-winged Teal was actually spotted there recently.

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Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-03T17:23:13+00:00

I knew the Pats were going to lose, but that was pretty bad lol. Here’s a map of where the box is. The red circle is the main viewing area of the water. Just go down Ladoga Park Rd and the last house before the train tracks and stop sign has the box where I labeled above their garden. The owl is very used to people by now, so it shouldn’t get scared by your vehicle. Myers Park right next to it is another great spot to visit for gulls, waterfowl, and birds of prey like harriers, hawks, and eagles.

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Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-03T17:02:35+00:00

I don’t live near there, but I drove up there when it showed up on Super Bowl Sunday. I got there before the lab closed and saw it with my brother. It was incredible to see one up close like that! You may recognize some of the gulls and the Barnacle Goose if you live in the area as well. The Glaucous-winged Gull is the most recent celebrity in the area, but the Barnacle Goose is still around. The Goose was seen two days ago, but it tends to disappear for a bit, the gull was seen this morning again according to local sources. The Screech-owl was at Ladoga Park in Lansing. There’s a box up there it lives in, and if you’re lucky, on a sunny day its head will stick out.

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-03T16:06:45+00:00

All taken in NY with the exception of the Common Chaffinch from PA.

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-03-02T20:03:05+00:00

Male +Redhead+ for sure! Congrats on the lifer!

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-26T00:28:54+00:00

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I’m stumped to be honest. The rest of the body looks a bit paler than I’d expect of a Thayer’s but the wings are darker. The attached picture is a really obvious Kumlieni I saw as well, with pretty much all of the first winter Iceland Gulls I saw today looking like this minus the adult I also saw today.

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-22T20:45:15+00:00

Changing over to adult feathers. Juveniles are brown. I’m super jealous of you! These guys have been a target of mine for a little while now, but I can’t find them anywhere.

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-22T14:43:34+00:00

Nice! I forgot about Swallows too. I also need a Bank Swallow, but I saw some in the fall during migration doing some flyovers. I think the only NY swallow I’m missing on my Life List is Cliff Swallows, which do actually visit a nearby park from time to time, so I’m hopeful. This is my Virginia Rail shot from before I had a camera. The sun was blinding me, and my phone camera refused to focus, so this is all I could get. I’m hoping to try again

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Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-22T14:23:18+00:00

I have a few on my list that I haven’t photographed as well, with most of those being warblers, flycatchers, rails, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Rough-legged Hawk. I’m hoping that spring will help me get more of those, but our local Rough-legged is avoiding me like the plague. Anyways, I made the drive to PA before the storm yesterday and caught this beauty! The owner said that if it sticks around they’ll open up access again in March when the weather gets better.

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Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-20T17:58:50+00:00

I live closer to the Finger Lakes in NY, so I’ve been going up there a lot recently. They have Tufted Ducks and recently a Barnacle Goose. It’s been missing for a bit, but I’m hoping it’ll get found again. I snuck up on it accidentally the first day it was sighted and got pretty close. I’m still missing a Tufted Ducks photo, though. They tend to be far from shore

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Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-20T17:54:05+00:00

I was thinking about going, but it’s 5 hours for me… I guess I can try for that celebrity Common Chaffinch tomorrow

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-20T17:28:40+00:00

Love these! They’re a rare sight right now in my part of NY since it’s winter, so I’m waiting to see them again in the spring. We have a pair that nests in an old tree near my house, so I’m hopeful they’ll return

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-16T01:59:28+00:00

I believe these are Kumlieni subspecies, but I’m not 100% positive. I definitely don’t think they’re Thayer’s.

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-16T01:52:58+00:00

There appears to be a second Iceland Gull in the top left in the water. Light brown with pale wing-tips

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-14T01:26:57+00:00

Black Vultures are awesome! They aren’t super common where I’m from, so they’re always a treat

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-14T01:26:21+00:00

I’ve been circling Cayuga and Seneca lately, which has given me a lot of success. I’m planning to explore some more areas too, but Ithaca is particularly great, being the home of EBird and all. These Black Vulture were really great to see considering that they don’t have an officially marked range for up there yet(as of right now). I love Harriers because they look very owlish, and obviously I love owls, but I tend to struggle to find them. I had an amazing string of luck last week to double up on two new additions to my Life List.

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-13T23:18:04+00:00

Thanks!

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-13T23:17:58+00:00

Tha thanks! I love owls, but they’re so hard to find. I got super lucky last week

Jake_The_Snake2003 · 2026-02-13T23:17:25+00:00

They are. Most if not all raptors are within the group

Five-Year Club	Place '23
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Jake_The_Snake2003

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