Highlights of a Montezuma ride this afternoon/evening included a cloud
of "starlings" over the smartweed at the beginning of the wildlife drive
that turned out to be Bobolinks. We counted 200 flying in to join the rest
after the main group landed, so easily 1000+. Other wildlife drive
highlights included American Bittern opposite Larues Lagoon in plain sight.
Eaton Marsh had great looks at both Yellowlegs, both Dowitchers, 2 Pectoral,
2 Stilt and 2 White-rumped Sandpipers. Nice close looks at the 12 great
Egrets at Benning marsh.
At Knox-Marsellus the light was excellent so we could pick out 2 Baird's
among the peep, Pectorals and Semipalmated Plovers on the mudflat. Good
Dowitcher numbers there but no sign of the Buff-breasts. We could see
Killdeer at Puddler's so if they were there we should have seen them unless
they were in the tall grass feeding with the Ring-billed Gulls.
Another surprise was the large group of Purple Martins circling and
coming to roost on the cell tower on the east side of route 89 opposite the
Montezuma Audubon Center. We counted 140 flying in to join those already
circling and landing on the highest point of the tower. So easily 300+.
FYI the shorebird flats along Savannah Spring lake road have been mowed
and waiting to be flooded for muckracers. Mike and Joann Tetlow
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