I am hopeful that the recent rains help rewater our units.  They were truly water starved!!  When I left the VC yesterday around 4PM, in the waning light I could see a shimmer of moisture in the VC Wetlands!!  I just received a text from Pete, who is roving today.  He says, “Visitors Center Pool full of water!!!!!  Like it never left!!  Benning has lots of water – in parts”.  YAY!!  Maybe you remember one year ago we had received about 10 inches of rain and were inundated!!  The Seneca Trail along the Seneca-Cayuga Canal, most of our units, and Armitage Road were flooded!   We had tons of water!  HOLY COW!!

     Pete and I surveyed Knox-Marsellus, Puddler Marsh and the Wildlife Drive units yesterday.  Knox had a few shorebirds and ducks but the Main Pool continues to be the waterfowl “hot spot”.  Visibility along the Wildlife Drive has improved due to staff mowing (Thank you Cassidy and Daria!!) and the dieback of the cattails.

     Maybe not as exciting, but equally important, I need to share that even though there is a break in waterfowl hunting until November 26, there will be a special veterans and active military waterfowl hunt on November 11 and 12. Today is the last day for that. Early bowhunting opened on October 1 and goes through November 18. Be aware that next Saturday, November 19, is “opening day” for firearms hunting of deer.  There will be way more people hunting in our area.  Please be super extra careful, especially when driving, as deer will be on the move, perhaps running and not paying attention to roads and vehicles.  Also, sometimes you may see people in some of our units.  They may be hunters and have permission to be there. The Esker Brook and South Spring Pool Trails are now closed to hiking. The Seneca Trail currently is available for hiking and closed to hunting. If you want to explore Northern Montezuma here is a statement from the DEC:

   “Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area provides excellent opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation year-round. However, birders and other recreationists should be aware that there will be a higher amount of hunting activity on the area on the opening weekend of the regular deer hunting season, which starts November 19th, 2022. Visitors can choose to wear fluorescent orange clothing during open hunting seasons while taking advantage of all the wonderful recreational opportunities the WMA has to offer.”

     I’m including pics of a double crested cormorant, a female hooded merganser and her courtiers, a long-billed dowitcher and a couple of greater yellowlegs and the long-billed dowitcher. That is a good comparison pic. Sorry for the poor quality, but the last two pics are of a greater yellowlegs that nabbed a small fish and eventually swallowed it!! We couldn’t believe our eyes!!  It wrestled with it for a bit and the next thing we know it was “down the hatch”!!  WOW, never saw that before!!  Birds never cease to AMAZE me!!

     Now that our Autumn splendor has faded, we are seeing a lot of bare trees, typical of November.  Remember to keep looking for nests now that so many leaves have dropped. Let me know if you find any new eagle nests!!  Hopefully, you can get out to explore and experience our magical migration and the wonderful wildlife at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive.  At the Refuge, dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Refuge Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail.

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.