Birding on Old Marsh Road East End - photo Tom Schultz
On Sunday, August 13 the group began gathering around 7:00 AM along Highway 49, near a large mixed gathering of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, GREAT EGRETS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, MALLARDS, WOOD DUCKS, RING-BILLED GULLS, and others. The skies were partly cloudy, and the temperature was cool and comfortable – in the mid 60s.
Birds Along Highway 49 - Photo by TOM SCHULTZ
Some BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS flew by from time to time, and a few AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERNS were also observed, as well as a couple of NORTHERN HARRIERS. In the nearby cattails were SWAMP SPARROWS and MARSH WRENS, and COMMON YELLOWTROATS, and a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was spotted. Various swallows were flying about, including TREE, BARN, and a lone CLIFF.
On the north side of the highway, a lone RUDDY DUCK was swimming with scattered PIED-BILLED GREBES, and several juvenile COMMON GALLINULES were observed. The water levels were high this year, so no mudflats were exposed, but we managed to find a KILLDEER, a WILSON’S SNIPE, and a couple of LESSER YELLOWLEGS.
Juvenile COMMON GALLINULE on Highway 49 - Photo by TOM SCHULTZ
After about 30 minutes our group moved to the Horicon Auto Tour, where we made an initial stop at the parking lot and bathrooms. We then drove part of the loop and spent some time walking out on the floating boardwalk. The water levels there were also high, but we managed to spot a WILSON’S SNIPE and a few LESSER YELLOWLEGS. A VIRGINIA RAIL called briefly, along with a few SORA and a couple of MARSH WRENS.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS - Photo by TOM SCHULTZ
Off in the distance we heard the strident calls of a pair of WHOOPING CRANES, but we weren’t able to spot them until we moved to the slightly higher observation tower. Suddenly the two white cranes took off and began flying in our direction. We watched them as they winged their way closer, and then landed in the cattails – perhaps only 100 yards from us! A young BALD EAGLE was perched in the distance.
WHOOPING CRANES - Photo by TOM SCHULTZ
From the auto tour we drove over to Point Road, and hiked in from the east end of Old Marsh Road. A couple groups of TREE,BARN, BANK and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were perched in dead trees, and EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, CEDAR WAXWING, GRAY CATBIRD, SONG SPARROW, YELLOW WARBLER and BALTIMORE ORIOLE were present in the trees and shrubs along our path. A lone BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER danced in the top of a willow.
The cattail marsh soon opened up, and we began to hear the calls of MARSH WRENS and SWAMP SPARROWS, and we spotted several BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS flying about, as well as NORTHERN HARRIERS, BLACK TERNS, a TURKEY VULTURE and a CHIMNEY SWIFT.
We encountered a variety of waterfowl along the way, including CANADA GEESE, TRUMPETER SWANS, WOOD DUCKS, MALLARDS and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, as well as a scattering of shorebirds – including SPOTTED and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, WILSON’S SNIPE, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, and a BLACK-NECKED STILT.
BLACK-NECKED STILT - Photo by TOM SCHULTZ
Other marsh birds included PIED-BILLED GREBE, SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL, COMMON GALLINULE, AMERICAN COOT, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRET and GREEN HERON.
Around 11:30 our group turned around and hiked back to the cars, where we concluded the field trip. Thanks to Jeff Baughman for co-leading this event, and to everyone who participated!
Tom Schultz, WSO Field Trip Committee
