Fall migration progresses: On my way north through Lansing this morning
I saw a southbound flock of 150 SNOW GEESE (no "Blues").
My first stop at Montezuma NWR was the Visitor Center pond:
Canada Goose
Mallard
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 20
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Pectoral Sandpiper
DUNLIN - 4 or more
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - 21 only on my second visit 16 adults, 5 juveniles;
identified both by plumage and calls
The Wildlife Drive was open past the Main Pool and the photo blind parking area
such that one could drive close alongside the new shorebird area close all the way
to the first bend in the road. It was worth driving to the end:
Northern Shoveler - hiding in main pool
Blue-winged Teal - hiding in main pool
Ring-necked Duck - hiding in main pool
Northern Harrier - 2 over marsh
OSPREY - 1 standing in the new shorebird water, bathing
Bald Eagle - 1 adult in tree east of Seneca River
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - at least 2
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - 1 non-breeding
Semipalmated Plover - several
Killdeer - several
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 1
Tree Swallow - many low over vegetation of main pool
AMERICAN PIPIT - several
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 8 males
At Knox-Marsellus Puddler's I drove Towpath, then viewed from East Rd, first
from midway, then at the north end by the overlook:
SNOW GOOSE - 250
Canada Goose - a couple thousand?
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
GREAT EGRET - 3
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs - plenty still
HUDSONIAN GODWIT - 4 at least, first a single bird seen in a southern lagoon,
later 4 flying together and landing out from the overlook
Semipalmated Sandpiper - several
Least Sandpiper - 1
White-rumped Sandpiper - 1
Pectoral Sandpiper - several
Dowitcher sp - 1 adult winter, distant from Towpath flew further away
CASPIAN TERN - 1
AMERICAN PIPIT - several
A brief stop at May's Point Pool added:
Gadwall - several pairs in breeding plumage
Wood Duck - 1 eclipse male
Pied-billed Grebe
GREAT EGRET - 1
COMMON MOORHEN - 1 adult
Tree Swallow - many over water
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - many over cattails
Barn Swallow - few
--Dave Nutter
