Hi All,
I spent about 4 hours today traversing around the Carney Marsh/Ankeny BBA block here in Polk Co. At Carney Marsh itself, in the southeastern section of the BBA block, I had about 45 species alone, including 2 Least Bitterns, 3 Orchard Orioles, and nesting confirmation for several species. I've never seen so many Gray Catbirds (40+!) in a small area before! Wondering if I would even find grassland-type birds in this block, my thoughts were answered at the new and rapidly developing Prairie Lakes complex/subdivision, located north and west of the DMACC Campus. At the western edge of the complex, 2 juvenile Hooded Mergansers were in a small pond with a family of Mallards. Four Lark Sparrows, 8 Grasshopper Sparrows, at least 16 Dickcissels, and 6 Eastern and 2 Western Meadowlarks were present in this area as well. At another small pond in the development, a pair of Spotted Sandpipers were engaged in a distraction display towards a rabbit that had wandered too close to a drainage culvert. Upon numerous attempts, I have not relocated the WESTERN KINGBIRD from last Friday. Danny Akers Ankeny [email protected] _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4 --- 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]
