Now is a good time to be out doing BBA atlasing. Many birds are out of the nest and active. Pesky bugs have been almost non-existent and the air is much more pleasant in the shade and during morning hours than in the concrete and confines of the city. Dead end roads and trails are still working well for me. Some highlights from the last couple of days.
Clayton Co. Block 185 near the town of Clayton: Prothonotary and Indigo Bunting attending cowbirds Ovenbird and E. Towhee fledglings Many Sapsuckers and Red Headed WP. Cerulean warbler singing Two trophy class whitetails in velvet walking a trout stream 7 Giant swallowtails puddling together A family of mink Allamakee Co. near Harper's Ferry Block 103 Henslow's Sparrows - 14 singing near the road Bobolink - 40+ in a flock - seem to be preferring stands of alien white sweet clover Block 101 150+ tree swallows on a power line with some Bank Sw. mixed in. Pulled in to a parking lot at 5:00 p.m. It was like arriving at daycare to pick up my bird. Families and pairs and singles of Chickadees, Titmice, both Oriole sp., Sapsucker, Downy wp. Catbird, Nuthatch, all vocalizing. Didn't have time to even close the car door. Winneshiek Co. - Clay Colored sparrows singing in northern prairies. Recently fledged young provide some laugh out loud comic relief this time of year. Aside from the looks and "lips" that only a mother would love, uncoordinated efforts at flight and movement are entertaining. Watched a recently fledged Bobolink do a complete one footed 360 on a strand of barbed wire when it lost its balance while trying to scratch itself. Wheee! Tom Schilke - Waterloo 319-232-8199 --- 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]
