Larry Lade
Moderator
February 23, 2007
I drove up to Squaw Creek NWR, Mound City, yesterday to see if the ice covered areas were beginning to disappear and to observe what bird species were around. When I got up there it looked like all the wet area were still entirely covered in ice. I thought that perhaps I should turn around and head for Smithville Lake (some 80 miles or so south of Squaw Creek) and try my luck there. Instead I went ahead and began driving around the auto loop. Surprisingly, as I arrived at the south end of Eagle Pool, I found some open water next to the foot trail which goes out to the observation deck. There were several species of geese and duck and also three (3) American Coots in this area. After checking out the various species of waterfowl here, I continued my drive over to the west side of the refuge. Near the northwest end of Snow Goose Pool (the "shorebird" area) I found almost no ice and the area was covered with waterfowl. I estimated the number of Mallards here to be 11,000. Not to be missed were four (4) "untagged" Trumpeter Swans (2 adults and 2 immatures). Below is a list of the waterfowl I observed (at the two locations mentioned above):
Greater White-fronted Goose - 5
Snow Goose - 15000
Ross's Goose - 2
Cackling Goose - 5
Canada Goose - 1500
Trumpeter Swan - 4
Wood Duck - one drake
American Wigeon - one drake
Mallard - 11000
Northern Pintail - 15
Green-winged Teal - 2
Canvasback - 1 drake
Redhead - 6 ( 3 pairs)
Ring-necked Duck - 50 +
Common Goldeneye - 90 +
Hooded Merganser - 20
Common Merganser - 10
A pair of Bald Eagle were adding material to the most recent nest on the refuge. This is the one on the main drive on the west side of the refuge near the "shorebird" area mentioned above. There was no eagle activity at the other two nests along the road which goes over to Mallard Marsh.
Driving through the woods on the north part of the auto- tour loop I encountered many of the expected species. About 1/2 the way through this area I stopped my vehicle and just enjoyed the wrens, nuthatches, titmice, chickadee, woodpeckers, creepers, robins, bluebirds, etc. Then I heard some loud knocks and calls of what sounded like Pileated Woodpeck/Northern Flicker. Probably Northern Flicker as I have never seen the Pileated here at Squaw Creek. But two had been seen by Paul and Ron on the CBC this year. As I sat there a calling and flying bird flew through the trees heading west. In another instant a second bird followed. They looked like they might be Pileated. I got out of the car and walked down the road in the direction the birds had flown. They would fly a short distance, perch in a tree and as I approached off they would go. I was finally able to get some good looks and was able to verify that they were indeed Pileated Woodpeckers. I would assume that they are a pair and may stay in the area, possibly even nesting! *They are listed as "accidental" on the Squaw Creek Checklist of Birds.
On the way off the refuge as I was exiting through the conifer-lined exit, I thought I might have seen a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on one of the trees. I stopped the RAV and got out to get a better look. I could not located the bird I was after, but as I got out of my vehicle a Barred Owl flew out from a near-by tree and further into the refuge.
At the feeders behind the headquarters building I found Purple Finch, American Tree Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow as well as the regular attendees.
All in all a nice morning birding!
I drove up to Squaw Creek NWR, Mound City, yesterday to see if the ice covered areas were beginning to disappear and to observe what bird species were around. When I got up there it looked like all the wet area were still entirely covered in ice. I thought that perhaps I should turn around and head for Smithville Lake (some 80 miles or so south of Squaw Creek) and try my luck there. Instead I went ahead and began driving around the auto loop. Surprisingly, as I arrived at the south end of Eagle Pool, I found some open water next to the foot trail which goes out to the observation deck. There were several species of geese and duck and also three (3) American Coots in this area. After checking out the various species of waterfowl here, I continued my drive over to the west side of the refuge. Near the northwest end of Snow Goose Pool (the "shorebird" area) I found almost no ice and the area was covered with waterfowl. I estimated the number of Mallards here to be 11,000. Not to be missed were four (4) "untagged" Trumpeter Swans (2 adults and 2 immatures). Below is a list of the waterfowl I observed (at the two locations mentioned above):
Greater White-fronted Goose - 5
Snow Goose - 15000
Ross's Goose - 2
Cackling Goose - 5
Canada Goose - 1500
Trumpeter Swan - 4
Wood Duck - one drake
American Wigeon - one drake
Mallard - 11000
Northern Pintail - 15
Green-winged Teal - 2
Canvasback - 1 drake
Redhead - 6 ( 3 pairs)
Ring-necked Duck - 50 +
Common Goldeneye - 90 +
Hooded Merganser - 20
Common Merganser - 10
A pair of Bald Eagle were adding material to the most recent nest on the refuge. This is the one on the main drive on the west side of the refuge near the "shorebird" area mentioned above. There was no eagle activity at the other two nests along the road which goes over to Mallard Marsh.
Driving through the woods on the north part of the auto- tour loop I encountered many of the expected species. About 1/2 the way through this area I stopped my vehicle and just enjoyed the wrens, nuthatches, titmice, chickadee, woodpeckers, creepers, robins, bluebirds, etc. Then I heard some loud knocks and calls of what sounded like Pileated Woodpeck/Northern Flicker. Probably Northern Flicker as I have never seen the Pileated here at Squaw Creek. But two had been seen by Paul and Ron on the CBC this year. As I sat there a calling and flying bird flew through the trees heading west. In another instant a second bird followed. They looked like they might be Pileated. I got out of the car and walked down the road in the direction the birds had flown. They would fly a short distance, perch in a tree and as I approached off they would go. I was finally able to get some good looks and was able to verify that they were indeed Pileated Woodpeckers. I would assume that they are a pair and may stay in the area, possibly even nesting! *They are listed as "accidental" on the Squaw Creek Checklist of Birds.
On the way off the refuge as I was exiting through the conifer-lined exit, I thought I might have seen a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on one of the trees. I stopped the RAV and got out to get a better look. I could not located the bird I was after, but as I got out of my vehicle a Barred Owl flew out from a near-by tree and further into the refuge.
At the feeders behind the headquarters building I found Purple Finch, American Tree Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow as well as the regular attendees.
All in all a nice morning birding!