There are LOTS of ducks, geese and yellowlegs in the Visitors’ Center Wetland!! They are there, yet hard to see in the vegetation. The good news is that there are some areas where they are tramping down the vegetation giving us some “windows” through which to see them.
The spoonbill was in Puddler Marsh on Tuesday morning. We had 30 species in Knox-Marsellus Marsh!! We saw one buff breasted sandpiper and several sanderlings in addition to six other shorebird species. It was REALLY difficult to sort out and identify the shorebirds with a peregrine falcon frequently keeping them on the move.
Unfortunately, we did not see the phalaropes or the ibis anywhere along the Wildlife Drive. However, others have reported them this week. Twice, right after I had left the Refuge for the day!!
On Monday morning, I found two pairs of adult bald eagles perched on dead limbs along the Seneca-Cayuga Canal. I think the pair about halfway up the Drive was from Maple Island and the other pair was from the Spillway nest. A week ago I saw the May’s Point pair perched similarly in a tree near their nest. This is typical for this time of year. I get the impression they are enjoying their “empty nest” status. I took some photos, but they are not clear because I was a wuss and wouldn’t put the window down to get better pics. Sorry! The mosquitoes are driving me CRAZY!!
ENJOY, be respectful and safe.
Jackie: Turn your air conditioner on in the car when you have the window down. Have the fan directly on you and the mosquitos get blown away. Might be a little chilly, but you can turn the temp up, I can in my car anyway. It does the trick. I sat in my car for over an hour in the vicinity of the phalaropes with the window down and not one bite. No, I did not get to see them.