Birding Day in Northwest Missouri, USA (1 Viewer)

[Larry Lade]

I went birding around the oxbow lakes region south of Saint Joseph, Missouri, this morning in the intermittent light rain. The temperatures were favorable and there was much more open water than there has been in recent days. These two factors seem to have influenced the waterfowl to direct their migration instincts to a northerly push. I tallied twenty-three (23) species in, on and around the various oxbow lakes around Saint Joseph. All five of the expected geese were found in good numbers: Greater White-fronted, Snow, Ross's, Cackling and Canada. The ducks observed were: WOOD DUCK, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, GREATER SCAUP, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, and all three mergansers: Hooded (~50), Common and RED-BREASTED (three males and one female). Bring up the rear was one, lone, female RUDDY DUCK.

*The species above in capital letters were FOY for me. I think that Horseshoe Lake is really going to be a "hot spot" this spring. The wetland habitat here looks like it will lend itself favorably to the various wetland species if they wish to extend their stay. It should be exciting to see how it developes!

The longspurs must have continued their travel to more northerly climes, as I did not see any this morning!

All in all, I garnered fifty-three (53) species during the morning outing. Not a great number, but quite rewarding nonetheless.

Good Birding!

Larry Lade
Saint Joseph, Missouri

 

[Larry Lade]

March 23, 2010
Birding the oxbow lakes region south of Saint Joseph, Missouri.

It was really great this morning to see nineteen species of waterfowl. The highlight was seeing eleven (11) Red-breasted Mergansers feeding together, diving almost in unison and reappearing at about the same time. There were many more Common Mergansers and Hooded Mergansers feeding, preening and resting in these shallow oxbows. Raptors seen were one adult Bald Eagle, a female Northern Harrier, several Red-tailed Hawks and also several American Kestrels. The passerines seen rounded out to a total count of fifty (50) species seen on this morning's outing.

I think we have seen an end to a long, cold, snowy and icy winter. This morning the sun was out and the temperatures moderated making it a very pleasant time to be out birding.

 

[Larry Lade]

"Waterfowl Bonanza", Squaw Creek NWR, Mound City, Missouri

With inclement weather predicted for the next few days, I thought that today would be a good day to get up to Squaw Creek NWR, Mound City, MO and see what birds might be in the area.

* My main reason was to try for a Red-breasted Merganser, as I do not have that bird on my Missouri Year List yet this year.

Well, it turned out to be a "waterfowl bonanza" today! There were over one million SNOW GEESE using the refuge today. The refuge biologist was beginning his count when I arrived at around 7:30 AM. I do not know what his actual count is going to be (but I will certainly be finding out when the numbers are tabulated)! Headquarter's managers indicated to me that they felt the number was probably around (or above) the 1.6 million (recorded a few years ago). I have been to the refuge many, many times and I have never seen the Snow Geese in such numbers as I witnessed there today!

I recorded 50 species of birds today. Nearly 1/2 of the species were waterfowl (23 species). Most of the species were represented in the hundreds (if not thousands). Most numerous were, of course, the SNOW GEESE. Then were the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, RING-NECKED DUCKS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, NORTHERN PINTAILS, GADWALLS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANADA GEESE, COMMON MERGANSERS and BUFFLEHEADS (these in the hundreds). Next were the TRUMPETER SWANS (I counted 92 of these as I drove the auto tour loop). Also there in the double digit numbers were LESSER SCAUP, WOOD DUCKS, CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, COMMON GOLDENEYES. I observed a few CACKLING GEESE, ROSS'S GEESE, AMERICAN WIGEONS, BLUE-WINGED TEAL and RUDDY DUCKS.

The only shorebirds I saw were KILLDEER (~25) and one lone GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

Other birds of note one GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE on a mud flat on the west side of the refuge, PURPLE FINCHES and HARRIS'S SPARROWS at the HQs bird feeders.

Unfortunately, I still do NOT have a Red-breasted Merganser for my 2011 List!

 

[SueO]

That sounds amazing! Over a million Snow Geese? Wow! I can't even image what that must look like.
We're only in month 3 of 2011, you'll have time for your Red-breasted Merganser. (I was going to say month 2 until I realized we're already in March. Where does the time go?)
Sue

 

[Larry Lade]

Birds today around the Saint Joseph, Missouri, Oxbow Lakes

This morning Myrna C., Steve K. and I birded the Saint Joseph oxbow lakes south of town and tallied 80+ species of birds.

The thirteen (13) species of waterfowl were: SNOW GOOSE, CANADA GOOSE, GADWALL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHER PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER and RUDDY DUCK.

WHITE PELICANS and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS.

Some waders we encountered were: GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRET, GLOSSY IBIS (1) and WHITE-FACED IBIS (7).

TURKEY VULTURE, BALD EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK and AMERICAN KESTREL.

We heard SORA but none of came out of the cattails to give us a look. We had a fair assortment of shorebirds: SEMIPLAMATED PLOVER (16 on Muskrat Lake), KILLDEER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WILLET (2 on Horseshoe Lake), HUDSONIAN GODWITS (3 on Horseshoe Lake), LEAST and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, WILSON'S SNIPE (several on Nelson Road slough) and WILSON'S PHALAROPE (2 female on Muskrat Lake).

Also had one EASTERN KINGBIRD (FOY). Our list of swallows included: TREE, ROUGH-WINGED, CLIFF, BARN and BANK SWALLOWS.

In the wooded area between Lake Contrary and the Missouri River were saw many RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER were about everywhere we went. NORTHERN PARULA were singing, but difficult to see. Several BROWN THRASHERS were heard and seen and we did get to see one NORTHERN MOCKING BIRD which are getting harder and harder to find in our area!

Sparrow we found were: CHIPPING, VESPER, LARK, SAVANNAH, SONG and SWAMP SPARROWS.

Seven YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were associating with other blackbirds west of 59 Highway along 54th Road before you get to Kenmoor Road.

A great day to be out birding even though it was a little windy and cold!

 

[Larry Lade]

April 20, 2011, Saint Joseph oxbow lakes birds.

An apparent new flock of ibises were at Horseshoe Lake this morning and they all appeared to be WHITE-FACED IBIS. Also present were some HUDSONIAN GODWITS and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. There was a large contingent of TREE SWALLOWS and a smattering of BARN SWALLOWS and a couple of CLIFF SWALLOWS. The best birds of the day were the four BLACK-NECKED STILTS, apparently the same four which I saw yesterday. The godwits were feeding in the water on the far side opposite Pettet Road at Horseshoe Lake.

Over at Muskrat Lake it was not as birdy, but there were a few shorebirds including two female WILSON'S PHALAROPES

Mud Lake yielded a SPOTTED SANDPIPER (FOY) and also a "runner up" for best bird of the day, a PEREGRINE FALCON. A magnificent bird perched high in a tree on the north shore of the lake.

SORA were seen and heard on the west end of Lake Contrary. This area looks like it might be good for bitterns a little later on!

The sparrows I saw all around these areas included: CHIPPING, VESPER, LARK, SAVANNAH, LINCOLN'S, HARRIS'S and WHITE-CROWNED.

Of course, the YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are all over the place!

Waterfowl numbers are diminishing with only only nine (9) species seen today: SNOW GOOSE, CANADA GOOSE, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER and RUDDY DUCK.

This morning was a little cool and the skies were overcast, but it is still a great time of year to be out birding!