Birding - Montezuma 9/14/11

Noga Blind

Today the Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC) scheduled a birding tour. Photographer-naturalist Dave Spier was the leader for the event. Arrived at the MAC to discover that only Dave was present. We made the decision to out to the ponds.

Reaching Sandpiper Shallows we observed a well camouflaged Green Heron. Walking in the truck tracks we made our way south along the Shallows and then Dave trudged through the cattails to the edge of the mud flats.

Sandpiper Shallows

There we were able to closely observe several shorebirds - Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, and a White-rumped Sandpiper (a life bird for me).

Dave took this photo of the Pectoral Sandpiper  and the White-rumped Sandpiper.

Great opportunity to get up close to these shorebirds.

Pectoral Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper

This close-up venture through the cattails was an experience that I will attempt again thanks to Dave's instruction on how to approach it.

Heading back to the center we walked by the north pond. There we heard a Common Gallinule and observed 6 Green-winged Teal.

Once in the center while visiting with Becky a Northern Harrier flew out over the fields.

Stopped by Martens Tract on my way home.

There on the far end perched on the duck box was the Great Blue Heron. There were 3 Great Blue Herons flying around.

Thanks to Dave's gracious sharing of his knowledge of birds and photography had another wonderful day in the bird world.