Bird Survey for July 08, 2022

Linda and Pete had small numbers of birds yesterday. Not to worry, we had low numbers last year at this time also.  I don’t have a list to share because they couldn’t get it scanned and sent to me.  But the list is posted in the sunroom of the Visitors’ Center, at the VC desk and in the Nature Store.  It appears that the Refuge staff is putting water into Larue’s Lagoon and they saw a greater yellowlegs and a killdeer there.  In the Main Pool they saw a pair of ruddy ducks and a pair of buffleheads. What’s up with that? I checked last year’s lists and our first sighting of ruddy ducks was at the end of September and we didn’t see buffleheads until mid-November!! I’m going to include a picture of the north end of Eaton Marsh that I took last Monday morning.  There was a puddle, apparently filled with fish, that the herons and egrets were enjoying. There was also a pair of mallards and about a dozen greater and lesser yellowlegs there. Yesterday, it was completely dry!!  Near the spillway I found a pair of Canada geese with VERY young goslings on Monday. These little guys were sporting some downy yellow feathers while most of our other goslings are looking like smaller versions of their parents!!

We may not have many water birds to see right now but we have magnificent plants!! Common chicory is beginning to show beautiful blue blossoms. It is native to Eurasia and was brought to North America for medicinal and culinary purposes. The root is used as a coffee additive and even as a coffee substitute during lean times. White sweetclover is abundant along the Wildlife Drive.  Linda and Pete also saw some yellow sweetclover.  Keep an eye out to see if you can locate some!!  Wild mustard is also abundant along the Drive. I have discovered that many of these plants are not native to North America and were brought here years ago for medicinal and culinary purposes.  However, some good news is that these plants provide lots of blossoms for our pollinators. Also, some of the small sunflowers are beginning to flower along the Drive.  And I’m pretty sure they are natives. Don’t forget to check out the ABSOLUTELY GEORGEOUS pickerelweed in bloom in Seneca Flats and other units.

Hopefully, you can get out soon to explore and experience all the amazing things at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive.  However, this is a REALLY great time to enjoy the Refuge Wildlife Drive from the comfort of your vehicle!!   Remember, the Refuge Wildlife Drive is now open to hikers and cyclists as well as cars.  Dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail.

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.