I did the same circuit I did about a week ago and had an amazing day. Lone Tree - "Mommy and Daddy" GH Owls were in the tree. I got a few solid pics of what I presume is the male who was not on the nest. Also, I got some pictures of a Eurasian Collared Dove in city limits. A N. Harrier was flying down the middle of the road to Cone Marsh. No traffic, so I stopped in the middle of the road and popped off a couple shots.
Cone Marsh - There were about 80 Greater White-fronted Geese, 100+ Canadas, 31 swans (presumably Trumpeter), Mallards and a mixed flock of Canvasback/Redheads. I decided to drive V Avenue further South along the western edge of the marsh and saw, what I presume, is a continuing Loggerhead Shrike. Having gone through the photos it is surely a Loggerhead. I can finally cross some form of shrike off the list! I also checked out the location where I had previously seen the Long-eared Owls, but no luck. Lock and Dam 14 - Continuing Thayer's and Glaucous juveniles. Under I-80 bridge - Lots of singletons within viewable range. There was a raft of 13 Ruddy Ducks, a solo Am. Coot, solo female Hooded Merganser, solo Pied-billed Grebe, plus most of the other typical "mega-raft" ducks. Mixed Flock near CR - The continuing flock West of the Cedar Rapids Airport was fun to see. Mostly Lapland Longspur with a few Snow Buntings and some Horned Larks mixed in. I loosely count RT Hawks and Am. Kestrels while I am out. I see so many that after awhile it seems like there is no point. I would venture to say I saw at least 40+ RT Hawks (6 within a mile South of Iowa City) and 20+ Am. Kestrels. Lastly, I saw a Cooper's Hawk in SE IA City at the start of my journey and one on a light pole on the "S Curve" in Cedar Rapids ending my journey. Bird it on, Brandon Caswell Cedar Rapids --- 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]
