Hi Tweets:
We did our monthly birds census at Kent Ponds (Green River Natural Resources
Area) on Sun, Apr 30 from 7:30 until Noon. The weather started out foggy,
39 degrees, but cleared and the temp warmed up to 50 degrees. The migrants
and other birds were out. Some highlights were: a SHORT-EARED OWL perched
on a 3-foot sprinkler head in the west meadow at 9:30am. A Green Heron flew
from the west at 7:15am. Two brown N. Harriers were flying in that area.
Over on the east side, just north of the Animal Shelter, the group was
observing birds in the GRNRA fields back behind the Anixter Bldg, when a
huge flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers flew through. At the end of the
census, the two teams had counted approximately 400 Yel-rpd Warblers! Most
were Audubon's sub species. About 40 were Myrtle Yellowrumps.. Warblers
also included many Common Yellowthroats, approx. 6 Or-crowned Warblers, 2
Wilson's Warblers, and one Yellow Warbler.
5 species of swallows were seen: Tree, Violet-green, Barn, Cliff, and N
Rough-winged Swallow (just a few of that species). There were a few Vaux's
Swifts. A Hammond's Flycatcher was seen by the ponds team, and they also
got to hear it's call note. Several Virginia Rails, and one Sora was heard.
This may be the first Sora reported on our GRNRA monthly censuses, which
were started in 1999.
Total species seen and heard - 69. It was a great day at Kent Ponds.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
mail to: linusq at att.net