Hi everyone, I've lived in Iowa for less than a year and just joined this listserv today so that I could make a report that I hope others will find interesting. On Mother's Day (12 May 2013), I was out for a morning stroll in the Emerald Park neighborhood on the west side of Storm Lake in Buena Vista County. I heard the unmistakable metallic, bubbly sound of the Bobolink and looked up to see 3 flying over; their black bodies and white heads/necks were clear, even from below. I haven't seen this bird in years and was delighted.
Furthermore, I am teaching an ornithology course at Buena Vista University and, finally with the late spring, have been getting some very nice field sightings with my students. Perhaps also of interest is that we saw what was either a Clark's or a Western Grebe on Tuesday, 7 May 2013, while on the wooden overlook at Sunken Grove State Game Management Area. It was at such a distance and hiding among the plants that even a spotting scope couldn't help us make a concrete determination. I did my best to take a telephoto image, and upon blowing it up digitally, I would lean towards calling it a Clark's because the eye seems to be surrounded by white. Now that I've joined the listserv, I look forward to getting to know some of you and reading about your adventures with birds. Heather York Buena Vista University Storm Lake, 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]
