Spring is well underway at Montezuma!! Turtles are emerging from their winter quarters, shorebirds are beginning to arrive, eaglets and owlets are growing rapidly, and goslings are appearing along the Wildlife Drive. There have been sightings and pictures of American bitterns as well. In addition to our usual Spring things, we have had sightings of two or three American white pelicans on the Main Pool for over a week! Pete and I saw three near the spillway! I’m always telling visitors to keep an eye to the sky, but now I am also saying, keep an eye to the ground to watch out for our turtles. I am including a picture of a turtle the size of a quarter that we found in the VC parking area!! We saw our first of the year Canada goose goslings Tuesday. Last Friday I saw my first of the year, black tern in the Main Pool. On Tuesday I found 6 black terns there!! We didn’t see any canvasbacks or common mergansers during our survey. According to my Merlin app, they both head north and west, some going all the way to Alaska!! I truly believe they really enjoyed the easy fishing conditions on the Main Pool while they were here!!
Pete is continuing his guided walks on Saturdays in May. I will attach his flyer.
Hopefully, you can get out soon to explore and experience all the amazing Spring things at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive. Remember, the Refuge Wildlife Drive is open to vehicles only. Dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Visitors’ Center and on the parts of the Seneca Trail that are open.
Pic#1: painted turtle w/ quarter, #2: painted turtles in hole, #3: painted turtles Main Pool, #4: immature bald eagle Main Pool, #5: Canada goose w/ goslings Wildlife Drive, #6: dunlin Main Pool, #7: great horned owl w/ owlets, #8: pair of hooded mergansers Main Pool, #9: ruddy duck Main Pool, #10: sandhill crane Main Pool.
ENJOY, be respectful and safe.
I am so glad you are back for the new seasons. I love your narrative, and your pictures are great! It all inspires me to do the wildlife drive more often to see for myself.
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you can get to the Refuge soon.
Hello Jackie: Love the pix. May I ask where can I find that owl with its chicks? My daughter loves owls and would love to get a photo like yours. Thanks again. PS: And thanks for the heads up for the cute screech owl. Got many photos.
Thank you so much for the great pictures. We were on the Wildlife Drive on 4/23/25 and saw several dunlin, but we didn’t know what they were until we saw your picture!
I am delighted to learn that my picture of the dunlin was helpful! Thank you for letting me know!
Wonderful pictures of the owls. I love owls and volunteered to count them at Braddock Bay. But what I loved most was the pictures of the turtles. I had one the size of a quarter in my yard and I put it in my garden so my husband would not mow over it. I am all for saving as many and possible. Thanks for always amazing me with your beautiful pictures and explanations of what I am looking at.