Five Swainson's Hawks settled in across the river yesterday afternoon for a new species on my yard list.
Today there were lots of new birds and lingering old ones. Five Greater White-fronted Geese still at Dan Green Slough and one Ross' Goose was with a mixed flock of Snows and Blues there also. One new Eared Grebe was at Mud Lake and five Horned Grebes were on Lost Island Lake. Breeding plumage with black neck versus red helps with the grebe ID. Shorebirds were finding mud flats and sparrow species were showing up in all kinds of places. A pair of Rusty Blackbirds were hanging out together at Barringer Slough. Seven Smith's Longspurs surprised me as I cut across a field of alfalfa ending my hike through the butter butt, kinglet and Hermit Thrush filled woods along the Little Sioux River WMA this afternoon. May the birds of Spring be with you! Lee A. Schoenewe Spencer --- 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]
