American Coot - Joseph Ransdell-Green
Report

Contributor

Joseph Ransdell-Green Media from this contributor Profile

Date

Location

Fairbanks Int. Airpt--Float Plane Ponds (possibly restricted)
Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 64.8246316, -147.8380394
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

Continuing, American Coot, first reported by Brandy J. Black waterfowl, almost entirely white, pointed beak with darkish color circling near the tip, white tail converts, red shield above the beak. I tried to check every bird on the pond. I checked the spot that Brandy photographed the coot the evening before. I waited at slip 30 for a few minutes, checking for the coot and counting waterfowl. No coot. I tried walking to the shore, maybe I could see it from there. I flushed a brown passerine and a snipe from the reeds. I knew the snipe but couldn't catch what the other was. Just then the coot appeared, and my attention instantly focused there. I felt the same level of excitement as when I saw the coot in Sitka in March. A Fairbanks kid, I never grew up with coots, so their looks and behavior are new for me. This time the bird was diving down to get algae and also eating other aquatic plants. Very satisfying time with the coot! Thanks to Brandy for the great finds on Friday!

Technical information

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Original file size
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