Yesterday, we struggled with the challenges of poor light conditions, intermittent rain and fog. You know me, I would whine more, but I know that our area is truly in need of rain!! You will see in the picture of bald eagles (1 adult and 5 immatures) at Tschache Pool, just how dry it is there. It looks like a drawdown, but this was Mother Nature’s doing not a Refuge decision. However, the great egrets seem to love the conditions at Tschache Pool. There was a “sea of white” that could be seen from the tower, it was great egrets!! There was also a bunch in the trees closer to the Clyde River that could be seen from the tower as well.
The Main Pool, especially closer to the spillway, has been and was the “hot spot” for ducks and shorebirds. On Monday morning, I found Wilson’s snipes, ruddy turnstones and a black bellied plover among the usual shorebirds! Birders have been reporting the glossy ibis and Eurasian wigeon in that area, but we did not see them yesterday, RATS!!
One of our roving naturalists, Dave, said that the sandhill crane family showed up and hung out in the Visitors’ Center Wetland Sunday afternoon. They did a repeat performance on Monday afternoon. They started in the north end and worked their way along the west edge to the south end. Then they crossed over to the east side and worked their way back north. They were so close to the Visitors’ Center deck, holy cow!! They were a big hit and a life bird for several visitors!! Woohoo, I just love it when that happens!!
I’m including a couple of pictures of adult bald eagles. One was in a tree across the Seneca-Cayuga Canal and could be seen from the Wildlife Drive. The other was taken from the Sandhill Crane Unit. It was in a tree on the east side of Seneca River, east of the Unit. It could be seen from Van Dyne Spoor Road. When we were on the west dike of the Sandhill Crane Unit we came upon a sandhill crane family making their way, away from our approaching vehicle on the dike. After a bit, we couldn’t see them any longer and didn’t know where they had gone. A little while later, when we had stopped to count birds in the unit, the colt jumped up out of the tall vegetation near us but didn’t fly. It made a few awkward jumps and we quickly moved away as not to stress it any more. Then we saw two adults fly over in the direction of the kid. So, I think the colt wasn’t flying yet and the parents hid it in the tall vegetation on the side of the dike away from the unit. We just happened to stop near it and scared the poor thing. However, all is well and the family is together again!
Remember, this Friday and Saturday, September 9 and 10, is the annual Montezuma Muckrace, a 24-hour fund raising birding extravaganza!! If you are not on a team, feel free to support a team with a $$ donation. Just go to friendsofmontezuma.org and click on the “visit our Muckrace page” link. You can choose a specific team to support or donate to the general fund. In case you are interested, I am on the “Fellowship of the Wing” team. No pressure, but feel free to support us! All monies go to assist the Refuge, DEC and Audubon projects and activities. Due to the Muckrace, we will not do our regular survey on Friday.
Hopefully you can get out soon to explore the trails, towers and Wildlife Drive at MNWR and the Wetlands Complex.
ENJOY, be respectful and safe.
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