My favorite wife, Anna, has informed me that the term "crazy" as regards ME is no longer in doubt. This despite my offer to give her the "Wife of the Day" trophy. I guess this bears some explanation (some of you already knew I was crazy).
Off to Red Rock at 5:48AM. Arrived a little early so had a breakfast burrito and potty break at Mcky D's. The back to the river (Keokuk Dr or T17) about a mile+ below the dam. Thousands of Ring-billed gulls milling over the river and flying downstream. Adult Glaucous and Adult Lesser Black-backed gulls occasionally resting on the sand bar but mostly milling about with the RB. No Thayer's. Headed up through the lower campground and viewed the stuff below the dam--American Black Duck, Common Loon, AW Pelicans. Few gulls. 200+Bald Eagles mostly roosting down between the old bridge and the one down on T17. Above the dam--tons for birds and gulls and one Common Loon (maybe the one from below moved?) but nothing really noteworth. Lake is sheet ice with some large open patches but I am sure ice will disappear today or tomorrow. Next to Maffit Reservoir--7 Trumpeter Swans but no AM Black duck Off to Saylorville--Iceland Gull is present off of Sandpiper but no Thayer's or Black-legged Kittiwake. Lake conditions similar to Red Rock. Again lots of Bald Eagles present. Next up to Story County with hopes of a Common Redpoll or two. At the last minute we decided to check out the Snowy up on E-29 (Armstongs looked for it for two hours yesterday) and it just plain said "I want to be seen." It was on the fourth tall metal powerpole west of 580th (about 1/2 mile north of E-29. Steve Dinsmore's post it was still there this PM. My anecdotal experiences in Woodbury recently seems to be that later in the day they are more likely to be up high roosting--earlier in the day they are down on or closed to ground level (not scientific at all). No Common Redpolls anywhere today--really was hoping as we did not get one last year. Off to Swan Lake looking for Long-eared Owls--Matt Wetrich helped us find two. Really neat. My wife is beginning to enjoy the day. First a great look at Snowy Owl, the weather is so nice that our walk at Swan Lake State Park is warm enough that I considered putting on my shorter shorts and going shirtless, and then the two gorgeous LE Owls. The bison at the park topped of the visit for Anna. Time to head home. By chance the best route takes us right by Owego in Woodbury. One Great Horned, six Short-eared Owls (two of them had left the reservation and were seen outside the Owego boundry lines--what is up with that), and a Northern Harrier put an exclamation point on the day. It is getting darker and darker and the sunset is stunning--we are still running around with both windows open. Final push home takes us by South Luton (nothing that we could see) and North Luton were one more SE Owl sat perched on a "Public Hunting" sign. First of the Year birds today: Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull American Black Ducknew Marion County bird Common Loon Northern Pintail Cackling Goose Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Ring-necked Pheasant American White Pelican American Coot Iceland Gull Great Horned Owl Snowy Owlnew Story County bird Long-eared Owlnew Carroll County bird Short-eared Owl American Tree Sparrow Lapland Longspurnew Greene County bird House Finch Arrived home (Sioux City, IA) after 394 miles and almost exactly 12 hours. I rethinking that "Wife of the Day" trophy. I think she enjoyed that day well enough that I should save it when I really need to make up for something. Happy New Year all. Get out there and bird. Report your sighting AND RENEW or SIGN UP for new MEMBERSHIP-- just click hear http://www.iowabirds.org/IOU/PayDues.aspx Hey, it is not too late to give a membership to someone as a gift. It might be appreciated even more than a "Wife of the Day" trophy! 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/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
