On August 4, a simple kayak adventure gave way to a once in a million rare bird sighting at Balsam Pond in Chenango County. Mike DeWispelaere ID'd the immature bird beyond its plumage and found it to be a Pomarine Jaeger. The Jaeger species is mostly coastal and has only been sighted three times in Central New York. (Photo by Mike DeWispelaere)

MCDONOUGH— On August 4, a simple kayak adventure gave way to a incredibly rare bird sighting at Balsam Pond in Chenango County.

Bird club member Mike DeWispelaere and fellow bird and hiking club member Abbie Tamber decided to go kayaking at Balsam Pond to explore the shoreline and water.

“I had never been to Balsam Pond before and did have my binoculars with me when this gull type bird came over the top of us, circling around a little bit,” said Mike. “I’m running through my mind, this doesn’t look like any gulls I recognize.”

He said he’s not a gull expert but knows the most likely gulls that would show up in Chenango County and he couldn’t paint it as any of those.

“I didn’t have my camera with me at the time and I have this potentially rare bird,” he said, “I didn’t think it was some sort of gull but the lighting was not great for looking through binoculars at that time, it was in the sun a bit but it looked like it circled and dropped down to the other end.”

He went back to get his camera and then proceeded to kayak their way over.