Chirps and Cheeps

I made the long trip back out to Montezuma today because an American White Pelican had been seen there and I just had to get another look at that massive bird! The first time I saw this species was at Tifft two years ago - and then again last year at INWR.  Lighting was very poor as it was just after sunrise when I arrived. But I did get to see him and the view was pretty decent in my scope.

I met Joe Brin for the first time there and together, we tried finding the Sandhill Cranes that I was pretty certain I heard (or was it a crow?). After getting directions from Joe, I left him and went to hike down Armitage Road. No Prothonotary Warblers were found, but I still had a few nice sightings: an Indigo Bunting, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwings, and, alas, a young Cowbird being fed by a House Finch.

I was surprised to see Joe coming up the road as I was walking back to the car; he found the cranes and had come to find me. Thank you, Joe! We went back to Knox Marcellus Marsh and scoped them for a little while - and then off I went again to do more area birding since I had come so far.

Many hours later, I ended the day with great views of the "famous" Red-headed Woodpeckers (an adult and its offspring) and several sightings of both adult and juvenile Least Bitterns.