Marsela filled in for Pete yesterday.  I was glad to have her help, she did a great job!! Thanks, Marsela!!  FANTASTIC news for folks who have been concerned about the lack of water in the Visitors’ Center Wetland, we have water!!  WooHoo!!  By late afternoon yesterday, the water stretched just south of the Visitors’ Center.  We had a few dozen killdeer and a couple of semipalmated plovers there!  I would guess that the numbers and variety of shorebirds will certainly increase!

We only found one shorebird in the slough before Larue’s, a spotted sandpiper.  However, Larue’s Lagoon had a few shorebirds, including a couple of dowitchers.  The crane family was in the area of the Main Pool across from Seneca Flats.   A little further up the Wildlife Drive we noticed two pairs of adult bald eagles flying out over the Main Pool!!  HOLY COW!!  One pair turned and headed up to the spillway and the other went across the Main Pool toward Maple Island.  PANDEMONIUM ensued as the ducks and geese went NUTS!!  Hundreds of ducks, mostly mallards, were flushed!!  A little further up, after they had settled down again, we found an area fairly close to the Drive, that had a bunch of mallards and yellowlegs feeding together.  It was cool to watch the yellowlegs stride around the ducks to feed.  The mallards appeared to not care.  They all looked to be feeding fast and furiously!  The other yellowlegs were out in the dark, stubbly areas making them much more difficult to see.  Further yet up the Drive we came upon a group of ring-billed gulls and Caspian terns.  As you know it was CRAZY hot and even birds feel the heat.  I got a picture of the gulls that had their mouths open to dissipate the heat, like panting, since they don’t have sweat glands.  They sure did look like a sweet chorus singing!

The other day Linda Z found a few shorebirds down in Knox-Marsellus Marsh, so she had us officially add that unit to our surveys.  Since June, we had been surveying it only from the East Road Overlook for the Visitors’ Center list.  There were about 20 sandhill cranes, mostly spread out in the middle of the unit.  I did find two that were in some flowering vegetation.   At one point I was counting a bunch of Canada geese and saw what appeared to be a grayish goose.   I could only see part of the neck and upper breast as it was behind some geese and vegetation, resting with its head tucked back.  I grabbed my camera to get a picture and when I found it through the lens, it had put its head up.  It was a sandhill crane laying down!!  COOL, not what I was expecting!  When we neared the north end of the cross dike, between Knox and Puddler Marshes, we kicked out a few black-crowned night herons.  I got a picture of an immature black-crowned that had relocated to a tree along the marsh.  From East Road with binoculars or a spotting scope you may be able to see them.  I remember last year being able to see them from the overlook, perched in trees and also when they were flying around din that area. It helps if you are looking for them. When we were on the north dike of Knox, there was a bald eagle sporting not quite full adult plumage perched in a tree.  It was in a location that could be seen with bins or a scope from the overlook.  We didn’t see many great egrets anywhere yesterday.  Usually, this time of year their numbers continue to grow.  Where have all the egrets gone?  Please chime in if you have an explanation.

It is predicted to be really hot this weekend. Take great care and hopefully you can get out soon to explore the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and Refuge Wildlife Drive.  The Refuge Wildlife Drive is open to hikers and cyclists as well as cars through August 15.  Dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail.

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.