Had the day off so went to Montezuma with my friend Dan Watkins. We started at the visitor's center and it was pretty active. Decent numbers of shorebirds that were close enough for good looks.
There were at least 50 KILLDEER, 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER juveniles, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. 17 DUNLIN, many juveniles but a few adults molting. 1 juvenile LEAST SANDPIPER, 2 juvenile WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. These birds had a tinge of rufous on their back and edge of feathers. Got great looks at both of these birds and they were more a slate-gray vs. buffy color that baird's would show. Plus, when they flew they had white-rumps!! They also displayed the classic white eye-line. Cool birds. Also had at least 6 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and estimated 15 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS in basic plumage. Not sure if they were juvies or not. They were calling often so giving the time of year and calls, no doubt LBDO. I also had the late BARN SWALLOW that everyone has seen. We totaled 33 species just at the visitor's center as there were also waterfowl present and we heard several species of birds in the nearby woods. Wildlife drive was awesome. There were thousands and thousands of mainly CANADA GEESE and all kinds of waterfowl that flushed at once when an adult BALD EAGLE flew overhead. It was a spectacle. Waterfowl numbers and diversity continue to climb. Most birds were NORTHERN PINTAIL, but there were lots of RING-NECKED DUCKS, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, BLACK DUCK, MALLARDS, mostly LESSER SCAUP but at least 2 good views of GREATER SCAUP. Several REDHEADS too along with some RUDDY DUCKS pretty close. Both species of teal were present with a nice flock of BLUE-WINGED TEAL that were flushed. I estimated at least 50. There were many many GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Also NORTHERN SHOVELORS were all over. There were a lot of AMERICAN COOT. We also had many TREE SWALLOWS and two more BARN SWALLOWS that flew close by. We also had a great view of a female NORTHERN HARRIER coursing low over the marsh before eaton. Eaton marsh had mainly CANADA GEESE, and both species of teal, shovelors, mallards, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER and a lone GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Did not see the hudsonian godwit that had been present. It was not seen that whole morning according to the folks at the refuge visitor center. Tschache Pool had many wigeon including the continuing EURASIAN WIGEON. The bird was with a bunch of AMERICAN WIGEONS and a pretty easy find. We totaled 50 species at the refuge. Dave Nicosia -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
