I went out a couple hours before work to Hawkeye WMA and birded my way to the SE corner of IA City around the airport. After work I hit up Sycamore Marsh.
At Hawkeye there were a couple HUDSONIAN GODWITS lingering on that first alluvial fan just off of Highway 965/Amana Road. There were also thick swallow amalgamations: CLIFF, BARN and TREE SWALLOWS near the high water marks. Farther down Amana there were around 40 BONAPARTE'S GULLS floating and the regular waterfowl for this time of year. The resident male NORTHERN HARRIER was also hunting. At Sandy Point there was a VESPER SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROWS and common waterfowl including the AMERICAN WHTIE PELICANS. I checked out the pond near the parking lot and there were some waterfowl on it including a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS. Greencastle Ave. is basically inaccessible at this point due to high water. There was nothing down there aside another Northern Harrier. Babcock Access was super for sparrows. I had a singing VERSPER, WHITE-CROWNED, EURASIAN TREE, SONG and SWAMP from midway down the road to the parking lot. On McCollister Blvd on along the walk/bike path/bridge area there were four OSPREY in the trees on the river where you usually see Bald Eagles in the winter. There was also a group of sparrows I noticed between the sidewalk and road and they looked interesting. Since there were no cars coming behind me I stopped and a LARK SPARROW caught my eye and I was able to pop off a few solid pics. I checked out Sycamore Marsh after work and there was just the common mix in the marsh I have been seeing as of late (AMERICAN COOT, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, etc.) Up along the fence line at the North end I saw a single EASTERN TOWHEE and VESPER SPARROW. Good birding, Brandon Caswell --- 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]
