More at Montezuma
Published: July 26, 2014
Tags: General Observations, Red-headed Woodpecker, American White Pelican, Common Yellowthroat, Least Bittern, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Eastern Kingbird, Swamp Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Green Heron
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.
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0503.jpg)
Least Bittern
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0392.jpg)
Least Bittern
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0397.jpg)
Least Bittern
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0596.jpg)
Least Bittern with his lunch
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0260.jpg)
Least Bittern
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0297.jpg)
Leaving his perch
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0674.jpg)
Least Bittern
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0180.jpg)
Least Bittern
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_9393.jpg)
Red-headed Woodpecker
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_9391.jpg)
Off to the right is a wood chip s/he knocked off
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_9382.jpg)
Adult and juvenile Red-headed Woodpeckers
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_9498.jpg)
Red-headed Woodpeckers - adult and juvenile
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0122.jpg)
Common Yellowthroat (male)
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0153.jpg)
Common Yellowthroat (male)
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0310.jpg)
Young Swamp Sparrow
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0382.jpg)
Eastern Kingbird (1 of 5 that must have been a family group)
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_9669.jpg)
Cedar Waxwing
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_9902.jpg)
Juvenile Bald Eagle
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_9932.jpg)
1st Year Green Heron flyby
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_9764.jpg)
Young Ospreys - what a huge nest they build!
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_ebirdIMG_9508.jpg)
American White Pelican way out ont he marsh in very early morning light.
![blog photo](/images/blogs/4219/large/blogs_4219_IMG_0750.jpg)
Great Blue Heron - I think he's got something stuck in his bill.