Many thanks to Linda Mott for surveying for me yesterday with Linda B. so I could have a particularly fun day. I did a program for 33 of the most delightfully engaged students and 2 advisors in an Ecology Club from Central Valley Academy in Illion, NY.  We had another glorious autumn day. After a quick hike on the Seneca Trail, I gave a PowerPoint presentation about bald eagles then I rode on their school bus for a tour around the Wildlife Drive. At our stop at the spillway, they were able to see a bald eagle nest and an adult bald eagle down in the water in the Main Pool with a spotting scope!! A life bird for many!! They also enjoyed the plentiful ducks and coots that were close to the Wildlife Drive. After a group picture at the eagle sculpture for their yearbook, they went off to have lunch on their way back to school. Since they were running a little short on time, I had them leave me and the spotting scopes at the eagle sculpture.  Many thanks to the VC volunteers, Sue for driving out to pick me up and Mary Jo for “manning” the VC solo until she returned.

While I was having a wonderful day, the hard-working surveyors found oodles of dabbler ducks and Canada geese around the Refuge. There were even some redheads and scaup in the Main Pool. They found 4 Hudsonian godwits at Knox-Marsellus Marsh and the continuing godwit in the Visitors’ Center Wetland.  They surveyed Knox-Marsellus early and only saw 33 sandhill cranes.  However, later in the day someone from Cornell posted 120 cranes seen from the East Road Overlook.

I’m including pics of an American black duck in the VC Wetland, a red-winged black bird on a goldenrod stalk along the entrance drive, the sweet gum tree next to the VC, American wigeons and a mix of ducks in the Main Pool, a lovely maple tree alongside the boardwalk to the May’s Point Observation Deck, 2 immature bald eagles in the spillway tree, a close-up of the first year eagle and a close-up of the other immature bald eagle that were in the spillway tree. All photos were taken on Monday when I did my quick morning survey before I opened the Visitors’ Center.

Hopefully, you can get out soon to explore and experience the awesome colors of Autumn as well as our wonderful wildlife at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive.  On the Refuge, dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Refuge Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail. If you are enjoying the Northern Montezuma area the DEC says:

“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.”

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.