Going on a Snipe Hunt

 

March 26th

          Today we stayed closer to home.  We went to the marshes along the lakeshore to look for birds that are returning for the summer or migrating through the area.  First, we went to Magee Marsh Wildlife Area which is known for its boardwalk. It is a magical place during warbler migration.  Today, we focused on the marsh and were able to find several Blue-winged Teal.  Later in the day we found more teal in other locations.  They breed and spend the summer in our area.

          Next, we went to the Boss Unit of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.  This is an area that seems to attract Wilson’s Snipe every year during migration.  We found at least six snipe in a flooded muddy field.  Snipe are plump, long-billed shorebirds that are well camouflaged with their brown and buff coloration.  They methodically probe the mud for earthworms and other invertebrates with a sewing machine-like motion.  Displaying males fly high in the sky and make a whistling noise (“winnowing”), created by air passing over their outer tail feathers.

          The weather was cold and rainy but we drove around trying to find a Great Egret.   We finally found what looked like a very cold and unhappy egret at Anchor Point.  He should have stayed in Florida for a couple more weeks!  

(3 new species, total 136)

          Blue-winged Teal

          Wilson’s Snipe

          Great Egret  

                                                Wilson's Snipe

                                       Tree Swallows at the Boss Unit

                                                           Great Egret







      

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