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Limited Foray

By Matt Johnstone • Reading Time 2 minutes • Published January 18, 2022 • Birding Reports

Cyndi and I met two friends and did a limited foray into the refuge, hitting just a few locations. Still, without going to the lighthouse area or looking for passerines, and not working very hard, we tallied 61 species. East River Pool - the recent rainfall has increased the water level several inches, and what was a very productive site a few days ago was essentially empty. Stony Bayou 1 - The Vermilion Flycatcher continues, but it was on the west side of the road just north of gate 104 when we arrived. Several minutes later it was then seen at its favored location on the islands in Stony Bayou 1 near the water control valve. North end of Mounds 3 (gate 130) - a smattering of ducks, mostly Gadwall and Redheads, but also one drake Canvasback. The Am Flamingo was visible in about a five minute walk, left at the "T" and then clockwise around Mounds 3. Better views another 20 minutes in and the bird had moved somewhat closer to the outer levee than it has been. While at this location a sea plane made repeated passes at fairly low altitude quite near the flamingo and had set it aflight after one pass (it returned to its favored spot). I called the refuge to report, but apparently it was doing an authorized waterfowl survey. Tower Pond and South end of Mounds 3 - On the walk in, Tower Pond was empty except for an Am. Avocet at the extreme south end; an hour or so later on the way out shorebirds leaving the flooding bay had begun to move in, probably 300-400 birds of the expected species with nothing unusual. South Mounds 3 had the best duck numbers I've seen in the past couple of weeks, mostly Green-winged Teal, but several other species including two Am. Black Ducks, ~eight Mallards, and the very handsome Blue-winged x Green-winged Teal hybrid, maybe the same bird that was first found 2019/20. A white-faced Ibis was in the company of two Glossy Ibis. The former Bald Eagle nest in the pines on the opposite shore is now occupied by a Great Horned Owl. Since my recent post on missing robins, I have been seeing robins everywhere.

Cyndi and I met two friends and did a limited foray into the refuge, hitting just a few locations. Still, without going to the lighthouse area or looking for passerines, and not working very hard, we tallied 61 species.

East River Pool – the recent rainfall has increased the water level several inches, and what was a very productive site a few days ago was essentially empty.

Stony Bayou 1 – The Vermilion Flycatcher continues, but it was on the west side of the road just north of gate 104 when we arrived. Several minutes later it was then seen at its favored location on the islands in Stony Bayou 1 near the water control valve.

North end of Mounds 3 (gate 130) – a smattering of ducks, mostly Gadwall and Redheads, but also one drake Canvasback. The Am Flamingo was visible in about a five minute walk, left at the “T” and then clockwise around Mounds 3. Better views another 20 minutes in and the bird had moved somewhat closer to the outer levee than it has been. While at this location a sea plane made repeated passes at fairly low altitude quite near the flamingo and had set it aflight after one pass (it returned to its favored spot). I called the refuge to report, but apparently it was doing an authorized waterfowl survey.

Tower Pond and South end of Mounds 3 – On the walk in, Tower Pond was empty except for an Am. Avocet at the extreme south end; an hour or so later on the way out shorebirds leaving the flooding bay had begun to move in, probably 300-400 birds of the expected species with nothing unusual. South Mounds 3 had the best duck numbers I’ve seen in the past couple of weeks, mostly Green-winged Teal, but several other species including two Am. Black Ducks, ~eight Mallards, and the very handsome Blue-winged x Green-winged Teal hybrid, maybe the same bird that was first found 2019/20. A white-faced Ibis was in the company of two Glossy Ibis. The former Bald Eagle nest in the pines on the opposite shore is now occupied by a Great Horned Owl.

Since my recent post on missing robins, I have been seeing robins everywhere.

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