We have certainly had lots of DRAMA at the Refuge this week!! A juvenile roseate spoonbill has just about turned the place upside down!! Dozens of birders have visited in hopes of getting a look at this extremely rare bird. It has been seen in the pools near the eagle sculpture, Eaton Marsh and from Tschache Pool tower! Many have added a bird to their life list and some have gone away disappointed. If you come over to get a look, I hope you are rewarded with a good, clear, long view of it!

It appears that 5 of the 6 osprey nests along Routes 5 & 20 are active. The only one that I have not consistently seen adults using is the one closest to the Refuge entrance.

When you are not searching for the spoonbill, keep an eye out for the swamp milkweed that is in blossom along the Wildlife Drive. I have included a picture if you are not familiar with this beautiful plant. It is important to pollinators, especially Monarch butterflies.

The two eaglets at the Maple Island nest are still hanging around up in the nest tree. It is interesting to note that the spillway eaglets fledged by May 21, 2021 and these two seem to be in no hurry to take off.

While I was surveying Tschache Pool I saw two large flocks of shorebirds (looked peep size) equaling about 150 circling low over the cattails. They made several passes so I could determine that they were indeed shorebirds before they settled down out of view behind the cattails. Another exciting sight at Tschache Pool was the juvenile black terns foraging with the adults. Juveniles were also seen at Knox-Marsellus. COOL!!

The trumpeter swans and their cygnet were at Knox-Marsellus Marsh, seen from the East Road overlook.
I’m also including a photo of a mallard with 4 ducklings that swam very close to the observation deck by the eagle sculpture.

There are lots of really great rare and our usual flora and fauna at Montezuma!

Jackie 🙂