Great-tailed Grackles look as if they are getting ready to nest I saw three, two females and a male, they seem to be lingering around the reeds with the male constantly displaying and hanging around them. I was also quite surprised by the level of mimicry that the male had...he made several sounds the sounded exactly like something splashing in the water, and if it wasn't for the fact that I saw him open his mouth and move his throat in synch with the sounds I'd have thought it was something splashing about in the water.
Soras and Virginia Rails were present. On the flooded pasture (E of S Ave) south of the intersection of 100th St and S Ave (Boone County...) 13 Trumpeter Swans were counted. 3 more were on Bjorkboda and the breeding pair were on the Masterson side of the Marsh. On the west side of S Ave in a muddy bit of pasture part of an abandon farm was a small group of Greater Yellowlegs. FOY Eastern Kingbird was also at Masterson. Also at Bjorkboda was a (pretty sure about the id) single Short-billed Dowitcher...hanging out with some Blue-winged Teal. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
