Lisa D accompanied me on Tuesday’s sweltering yet productive survey. The sandhill crane family was on the west side of the Wildlife Drive that morning. The colt would sometimes lay down in the vegetation and could not be seen for a while. There are lots of killdeer in the muddy areas near the channel of water in the Main Pool. I have seen killdeer babies in that area but was unable to find any to show Lisa. One lesser yellowlegs, 1 semipalmated sandpiper, 1 least sandpiper and some spotted sandpipers were around in that same area. Joining that group was a Wilson’s snipe! That was a wonderful sight! Sorry no pic of it. I could only see one eaglet in the Maple Island nest. I don’t know if the older one fledged or if one was back in the shade where I couldn’t see it. In one of the water areas along I-90 I found a mama blue-winged teal with 7 ducklings!! (pic included) On Monday morning in that same area I found a snapping turtle crossing the drive, (pic included) so please be aware and alert as turtles are still sharing the roads with us.
We saw one Caspian tern at both Eaton Marsh and at the Sandhill Crane Unit/Van Dyne Spoor Road. There were also 7 sandhill cranes in the southeast area of the Sandhill Crane Unit. But, the baby pied-billed grebes stole the show at the Crane Unit. One family had 6 and another had 4 babies! (pic included)
From Tschache Pool tower I counted about 70 black terns! It is so amazing to watch and listen to them forage over the cattails. They are graceful and fast. They also dip, dive, skim and even drop into the cattails or suddenly appear up out of the cattails. Their acrobatics are sensational and entertaining!
While you are enjoying the Refuge if you smell something very sweet and fragrant look for common milkweed plants. (pic included) They can be found along the entrance drive, the Wildlife Drive, Van Dyne Spoor Road and some hiking trails. They are blossoming now and have a wonderful fragrance. They are an important part of the necessary habitat for Monarch butterflies. If you have any in your yard consider leaving them for the butterflies and not destroy them. You can keep checking your plants for Monarch eggs and caterpillars in the up coming days and weeks.
There are lots of wonderful things to see and experience at Montezuma. Have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend!!
Jackie 🙂
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