<< Back 11/20/02 The Naturalist's Corner By Don Hendershot It wasn’t the best of days for birds, but it was a great day to be afield and get a little early taste of winter. Bob Olthoff and I decided to test the brisk winds Sunday morning to see if the recent fronts had brought any migrating waterfowl. We started our trek at Lake Junaluska where we were imbued with early optimism. As we approached the lake from the golf course side we could see a small raft of ducks. Closer inspection revealed about 40 hooded mergansers. As we scanned the lake we saw a couple of more, smaller, groups of mergansers and on the shore, near the little fishing dock at the rear of the lake we spotted three greater yellowlegs. It is late in the season for yellowlegs. Closer to the dam we spotted more ducks and a small raft of seagulls. We scoped the gulls first and found ring-billed and Bonaparte’s. A look at the small raft of ducks revealed gadwall, ring-necked ducks and green-winged teal. Further explorations of Junaluska provided two ruddy ducks and three buffleheads. Our enthusiasm quickly waned when we arrived at Lake Julian in Asheville. Lake Julian is a part of Carolina Power and Light’s generating plant which creates warm water temperatures and often results in a thick cloud of fog at the lake’s surface when it’s cold. By the time we got to Julian the wind had picked up to a nearly steady 15-20 m.p.h. Through the fog and the white caps we managed to find only one small group of lesser scaup, in a protective cove, a few double-crested cormorants and one great blue heron. Still determined we headed to Hendersonville to check out Lake Oceola and Four Seasons Marsh. We took a quick side trip past Hooper’s Lane but the high winds had any pipits, longspurs and/or sparrows hunkered down somewhere. We did see two American kestrels; one clinging dearly to a power line and one valiantly surfing the stiff breeze. Lake Oceola produced only two ring-necked ducks and a belted kingfisher. At Four Seasons Marsh, we noted a great blue heron, some green-winged teal and a small group of wood ducks. Since I have been in Waynesville (1994), Lake Junaluska has probably been the most consistent lake in the area for winter waterfowl. However, Julian and Oceola can be good on any given day. The tiny water treatment pond along N.C. 191 in Henderson County has also produced some good (for the mountains) waterfowl recently with a greater white-fronted goose and three canvasbacks reported last week. Winter waterfowling in the mountains is almost always influenced by weather patterns and results can often be quite rewarding. Lake Junaluska will generally have some type of migrant waterfowl present from now through late spring. The most regular visitors are ring-necked ducks, lesser scaup and hooded mergansers. Common finds include common and red-breasted mergansers, blue and green-winged teal, bufflehead, American widgeon and ruddy duck. Occasionally common golden-eye, northern pintail, northern shoveler, redhead and canvasback may be spotted. Carolina Field Birders Club will hold monthly walks along Junaluska through the winter. The walks are scheduled for the third Thursday at 9 a.m. Meeting place is the tennis court area. The walks will be led by Kathy King and Beth Brinson. For more information call Bob Olthoff at 828.627.2546 after 5 p.m. He’s usually out birding till then. (Don Hendershot can be reached at don@smokymountainnews.com)