Particular thanks to Aaron Brees for relocating the Snowy Owl in Polk county just so I could go and see it. Good thing Pam and Reid showed to relocate again the aforementioned Snowy who managed to lose itself before I could find it the first time.
Mute Swan with Trumpeter Swan hanging together at Johnston Pits along with another pair of Trumpeter and Tundra hanging out. These two did a take off and circled as if to leave then return to the open water. Common Redpoll (2) also at Johnston Pits. I was unable to see any of the Swans from the lane so wandered north along the north/south road into the pits. I was gently informed that this road belongs to the Johnston Pits and we need to stay on the east/west lane which is Corps access. Anything along the river is fair game for access as well. I think you might have to take a scope or have better light than I had today to see the swans from the lane-- Specifics on the location. When you enter the lane proceed east past the first pond on the left and then past the STOP sign to the 2nd pit on the left. There are two spots of open water--the closest is quite small and had Canada and Mallards in it. The open water way on the north side (quite a ways out) is quite large and had numerous Canada, some Cackling, and Mallards lounging on the ice around the open water. The swans were all in the water and thus difficult to spot with only their necks and heads showing (this is when I decided to head into "no-no" territory). Great Blue Heron 3 (just north of the swan pit) all standing like guards on the ice. Picked up a FOY White-throated Sparrow at the Saylorville Visitor's Center as well as FOY Tufted Titmouse. NO Common Redpoll on display there. Copper Creek Lake in Pleasant Hill yielded 1 Canvasback (m.), Ross's Goose (1) Red Rock: American Black Duck 4 Redhead 1 Ring-necked Duck 6 Lesser Scaup 5 American White Pelican 2 Bald Eagles a plenty all over Common Merganser 4 Red-breasted Merganser 1 (f.) Hooded Mergansers 13 an additional 21 up at the Johnston Pits. Finished the daylight out with a hour of browsing Neil Smith NWR--primarily looking for a Jasper county Short-eared Owl. Alas, only two species seen in 65 minutes of wandering over all the roads--American Tree Sparrow everywhere and Dark-Eyed Juncos. "Cold" wasn't an appropriate term as it was more like "freezing" (8 degrees this AM--nothing compared to the -16 reported by Tyler) but the birds warmed me up. Added 13 FOY birds for a total of 83 YTD in Iowa. +4 for Polk County (218) Truly a blessing to have some many people around Iowa posting and helping each other out finding birds. Corey Lange (Gray Partridge) Aaron Brees, Glenn Watt, and Jay Gilliam (Snowy Owl) Matt Wetrich (Common Redpoll), Tyler Harms (White-winged Crossbill and Merlin), Larry Dau (Savannah Sparrow), Doug Harr (Rough-legged Hawk) Reid and Pam Allen posting all the stuff people call in to them and an top of all that they are out helping people relocate birds. Hey and that is on a FREEZING day. No wonder we have such great "finds" in Iowa. Wow, Go Iowans! 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]
