Yesterday, Linda Mott filled in for Pete and made the AWESOME discovery of two sandhill crane chicks with adults in Seneca Flats!! A little later, from the May’s Point Observation Deck, she also found a pair of American Coots with 5 chicks!! Toward the end of our day, I was lucky enough to spot a female wood duck with 6 ducklings!! They were seen in the Sandhill Crane Unit from Van Dyne Spoor Road. Woohoo!! BABIES R US!!
We could only find 1 Wilson’s phalarope in the Visitors’ Center Wetland. However, there were lots of dunlin and least sandpipers. We also saw some semipalmated plovers, lesser yellowlegs and short-billed dowitchers in the mix. The grasses are growing rapidly, making it more difficult to see and sort out the shorebirds. But the shorebirds are definitely there!!
We noticed that Dame’s Rocket is in bloom along the Wildlife Drive. Keep your eyes open for the beautiful, four petal blossoms in varying shades of pinks and purples.
FYI: the Refuge has donated the restroom at Tschache Pool to the Town of Montezuma. The workmen were there on Friday getting it ready to move. Unless they are actually moving it when you get there, you should have access to the tower. Yesterday, we saw a large number of black terns and I could sometimes see young great blue herons in some nests from the tower.
The weekend weather forecast is for high temperatures and some rain. However, conditions look to moderate next week. There is great stuff to see and I hope you can get out soon to explore the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and Wildlife Drive.
ENJOY, be respectful and safe.
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