Tucker Lutter and I spend the afternoon looking for the Mountain Bluebird first
seen last Saturday and again on Sunday. We ran into Dick Tetrault who was on
the same mission (having traveled from Coralville and arriving on site at 8:30
this morning--long DAY especially to not see it).
Just before we left we did spot what we believe to be the Eastern Bluebird
flock
that the Mountain Bluebird was with. The location was as described by Lee
Shoenewe--our flock was seen on Barnes Road about a quarter mile south of 468th
on the EAST side of the road in the Red Cedars just as you go down the hill
(there is a newer house about 120 yards to the east). The light was just
horrific--enough said!! To compound this, they flew west and did not return
though the three of us stayed for about 45 minutes waiting for them to come
back
to roost.
I spend the PM there yesterday as well. These were the first and only Eastern
Bluebirds seen either day.
Birds of interest:
Cherokee County
Northern Flicker (red-shafter) (see yesterday and today) 1
Merlin (very dark coloration but horrific light so not sure which subspecies)
1
Purple Finch m. 1
Rough-legged Hawk f. 1
Bald Eagle adult 1
O'Brien County
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Harris's Sparrow 1
Close to 400 Snow Buntings in Plymouth and Cherokee counties along with
numerous
Horned Larks but only 2 Lapland Longspurs.
Bob Livermore reported huge flocks of Horned Lark on Monday (one estimated at
3000 birds but NO a single Lapland or Snow Bunting that he was able to pick out.
Dick is staying the night so he can put a couple of hours in tomorrow AM before
returning home. Apparently a nemesis bird for him as he missed the Peterson
Mt.
Bluebird on three trips years ago.
Spectacular habitat and scenery today. Good to be able to go out.
God Bless,
Paul Roisen
Sioux City, IA
Woodbury County
712-276-0371(H)
712-301-2817(C)
---
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]
