While birding Swan Lake SP this afternoon, I saw a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak near the southeastern edge of the park. I watched him as he flew over an empty field and assumed a perch in a tall tree; his wing bars told me what he was even before I trained my 'nocs on him, but when I finally brought him in clearly, I got a great view of the heart-shaped patch on his breast. Within 5 minutes of having sighted the RBG, I heard, then saw, a Red-Headed Woodpecker in the same area. Other noteworthy observations from this afternoon include Blue-Headed Vireo, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-Crowned and White-Throated Sparrows, Harris's Sparrow, Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, and several 'peeps', most of which, I think, were Least Sandpipers.
Happy Birding To All! Rachel Simmons Carroll --- 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]
