I’m back from South Carolina and yesterday felt like I was still there!! Holy Cow!! There even have been some rumors that I brought this heat back with me. If I did, sorry, it was truly unintentional!!
The Main Pool and Wildlife Drive stole the show with over 20 different species of birds!! Most of the shorebirds were seen with a scope from the Seneca Trail Tower. But there were some up by the spillway. You’ll notice on the bird list that I included the slough just before (south of) Larue’s Lagoon. Pete found several species of shorebirds, seen from the Wildlife Drive. After the survey, I walked the Seneca Trail and I saw a yellowlegs and some peeps in that area from the trail. There was also a green heron that caught a fish while I was watching!! REALLY COOL!!
The Seneca Trail is getting some improvements. Our Youth Conservation group along with Cassidy and Nick are moving the trail, in a couple of places, to get it a little farther away from the Seneca Cayuga Canal. In just the last year it has been flooded at least 3 times. Parts have been undercut and even washed away in spots. It is looking good, can’t wait until it is completed. Way to go, you guys!!
The sandhill crane family was hanging out in Larue’s Lagoon. My, our crane chick is getting sooo big!! Last weekend, Chuck texted me that the crane chick out behind his house took flight! Maybe ours will be airborne soon. Further up the Drive, in the Main Pool, there were a lot of pied-billed grebes and babies (Linda, Pete and I like to call them grebe-lets). They are so cute and much fun to watch!!
Even though it has been pretty dry, the vegetation along the Wildlife Drive and Seneca Trail has been productive. At last, some of our native wildflowers are blooming!! WooHoo!! On the Seneca Trail, wild bergamot and yellow coneflower are blooming in the area on the right after the observation tower as you approach the Wildlife Drive. There is some blue vervain along the Wildlife Drive in the section along I-90. There is also some just past the eagle sculpture.
Even though it is CRAZY hot, you can enjoy great things at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive. Remember, the Refuge Wildlife Drive is still 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.
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