Date: 11/22/25 6:18 pm From: Derek Courtney <derek.dana.courtney...> Subject: Mountaineer Audubon Field Trip --- Cheat Lake
Hi, all!
This morning, 19 people joined me for a tour around Cheat Lake; a wonderful turnout for late November. The temperatures were relatively mild, which usually is not the most productive weather pattern for good variety or numbers of waterbirds. However, the overnight and early morning showers gave us hope for some surprises.
Nice birds were found all over the lake today, even if numbers were on the low side. At the up-lake marinas, a Bonaparte's Gull joined 13 newly arrived Tundra Swans among the horde of Canada Geese. The I-68 bridge turned up the stars of the morning in a Long-tailed Duck and a Peregrine Falcon that was perched on a snag just feet away from the Long-tailed Duck. And at Cheat Lake Park, the rarest find worked the edge of the water rather than swam on it as a continuing Green Heron was a pleasant surprise this late in the season. Full waterbird totals below, and the full trips have been posted to eBird for those interested.
Cheat Lake --- Sunset Harbor Hooded Merganser 7 Great Blue Heron 1 Belted Kingfisher 1
Cheat Lake --- Cheat Lake Park Mallard 7 Ring-necked Duck 4 Hooded Merganser 7 Ruddy Duck 6 Horned Grebe 2 Common Loon 1 Green Heron 1 Belted Kingfisher 1
Thanks to everyone who came out today. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday week coming up! Christmas Bird Count season is right around the corner, contact me if you'd like to join in on the Morgantown one, and/or consider joining one of the other great circles around the state. Best wishes to you all!
