FYI: masks are now required in the Visitors’ Center due to the high COVID rate in Seneca County. Actually, it appears that currently, NYS has many counties with high rates.
Now that we are into May our survey protocols have shifted to shorebird units, which this year are found along the Wildlife Drive; Visitors’ Center Wetland, Larue’s Lagoon, Seneca Flats, Eaton Marsh and Benning Marsh. We will also survey other units from public access points; Tschache Pool Tower, May’s Point Observation Deck, East Road Overlook, and Van Dyne Spoor Road for a while.
As we were surveying the Main Pool along I-90, two ibises flew up out of the dense vegetation at the back of one of the open water areas east of the eagle sculpture. They flew a short distance to the west and settled back down in the vegetation. We followed them with bins for a short time before they made their way into very dense vegetation and out of sight. Those rascals!! They could have been the two glossy ibises I saw on Monday morning in that area. On Monday they were very cooperative and gave me great looks to positively identify them. White faced and glossy ibises have also been seen in Guy Baldasarre Marsh on Van Dyne Spoor Road in Northern Montezuma. We checked it out yesterday afternoon. There is great visibility from the observation tower but we didn’t see any.
Shorebirds are straggling in and black terns were seen in several units. Some kingfishers are back and one gave us a wonderful view hovering over Seneca Flats before diving for a meal!
Last Sunday, Mike and Joann Tetlow called me to report that from the Tschache Pool Tower, they had counted 245 great blue heron nests at the Tschache Pool rookery!! Way to go Mike and Joann, THANKS!! Lately, from the tower, I usually see a bunch of bald eagles hanging out, in the air, in the trees, and standing on the dikes or muskrat mounds. Yesterday there were 3 eggs in the robin’s nest on Tschache Tower. Please be careful as you go up and down the steps. The nest on the Seneca Trail tower has been added to but there were no eggs in it yesterday. Be careful there too.
The pics are of the robin’s nest at Tschache Tower, dunlin at the VC Wetland, a male blue-winged teal napping in the Main Pool, a male mallard resting near the spillway, and a male northern pintail with a pair of green-winged teal.
After today, there is little rain in the forecast so hopefully you will be able to get out to explore the Wetland Complex trails, towers and Wildlife Drive!
ENJOY, be respectful and safe.
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