It was a good beginning when I picked up Tucker Lutter from his home (just back college for Christmas/New Year's). N Lutton, S Lutton, Sioux Jersey Dairy barns, Owego, and MidAmerican on the schedule. N Harrier (2) Great Horned Owl at N Lutton, Rough-legged Hawk at S. Lutton, some Am. Tree Sparrows but not much else. As we approach Sioux Jersey Dairy Tucker, in a matter of fact tone, says "there it is." Yep, after miles and miles and days of cruising the area of searching for the purported Prairie Falcon there is was! It appeared much less streaked than the one I saw up NE of Menards in Sioux City (first reported by Marg Brogie). Owego had a N Shrike a Rough-legged Hawk, Meadowlarks, Am. Tree Sparrows and 5 likely Common Redpoll.
Nothing else until MidAmerican where the most interesting birds were 1) what appeared to be a Mallard with a N Pintail like tail and 2) a very large goose--Head was much like a Swan Goose, coloration similar to a Canada Goose, with the body shape of a Graylag. Cackling (85~), Greater and Lesser Canada (3000~), Greater White-fronted (1), and Snow Goose (7). Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail (9), Common Goldeneye (6), Common Merganser (1), Mallard (4000~) Late report of a Snowy Owl on the Synder's Bend Access road. Will check that out tomorrow (weather permitting). Still no Snow Buntings (sure glad to have finally viewed the three at Oak Grove). 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]
