Oh yeah, the ducks are out there! Many times, during yesterday’s survey we would catch a glimpse of a duck tail swimming into the vegetation as we approached. The water is so high they are mostly hanging out under the cover of the vegetation. They don’t need to be exposed to predators or nosy surveyors! However, we did see 7 different species of ducks in the Main Pool.
As I mentioned earlier this week, the black birds are staging for their southward migration. I found a fairly large group at the beginning of the Wildlife Drive and tried to get a picture of them in flight. Of course, they would not cooperate! But I did get a picture of some of them when they settled in the small trees on the west side of the Drive.
I was able to get some pics of a belted kingfisher and a juvenile osprey showing the pale scaling on the edges of its feathers. According to The Sibley Guide to Birds, it will most likely have that scaling until next January.
We did not do an official survey at Knox-Marsellus Marsh. We checked to get an idea of the species, not necessarily numbers of birds. Although we did include some numbers and to see if the roseate spoonbill was still present. YES, it was!! Actually, a man with binoculars approached me and said, “Excuse me, can you tell me what that pink thing is down there?” I moved my scope and Voila! There it was in the southwest part of the marsh in the vegetation. It moved in and out of view while we were there. We had 6 visitors who got great looks through my scope. A “lifer” for some!! It is WAY cool to be a part of that!!
Remember the Muckrace is September 10 – 11. There is still time to create, join or support ($) a team. The monies raised help fund numerous projects in the Wetlands Complex.
If you can, get out and ENJOY, be respectful and safe!
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