I spent the morning out with Aaron Breese. Paul Errington Marsh. 1 Least Sandpiper. Pectoral Sandpiper L and G Yellowlegs. 30 Smith's Longspurs at the south end. Several Swainson's Hawks. One intermediate morph. 12? Snow Geese Rough-legged Hawk.
East of Errington we encountered a Loggerhead Shrike. It was just west of the intersection of NE 118th and NE 6th. The bird was sitting on a fence right along the road. First for either of us in Polk Co for many years. Chachagua Peregrin Falcon Swainson's hawks Brown Thrasher Kettle of Franklins Gulls overhead Country Roads. 3 Brewers Blackbirds 1 Yellow-headed Blackbird There are lots of flooded fields. There seems to be Yellowlegs in every little patch of it. Lots of BW and and a few GW teal. Other species of ducks mixed in most flocks. Anything I forgot Aaron? 04/20 By myself at Chachagua. South east of campground. There is a big Circle you can walk around a series of lagoons. Fox Sparrow Numerous Swamp sparrows. An early singing Dickcissle There were two birds that I should have paid more attention to but did not realize that they were potential early dates. There was an Empid that I observed by the Headquarters. It did not sing so I passed it and moved on. Later when I retuned I heard a bird calling that I though was an Acadian Flycatcher. I did not try to find the bird as it is a song I am familiar with. I later realized this should be a very early date and deserved more attention. The other, I am less sure about, was along the walk southeast of the camp headquarters. I never saw this bird but think I was listening to two singing Sedge Wrens. Also would be early. I did not attempt to locate them. Good day for birding. John McCecil Des Moines, IA --- 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]
