We had a beautiful day for the first count of the season. As always the setting sun put a golden patina on the marsh.  Several Great Egrets looked a pale blue as they came in to land, then turned white before then dipped below view.  Forty-eight egrets were counted but most of them left the sanctuary and headed north before sunset.

Notable species included a Common Nighthawk and 9 warblers found by Don & Robyn walking the trail and the marsh.  We also had lots of raptor activity with four Northern Harriers (most immature), a Bald Eagle, several Red-tailed Hawks, and lots of Turkey Vultures to remind us to keep moving while we watched for cranes.

Crane counters:    Don Henise, Robyn Henise, and Gary Siegrist

Crane Count-45

Species count-54

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Turkey Vulture

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Green-winged Teal

American Black Duck

Mallard

Blue-winged Teal

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

American Coot

Sandhill Crane

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Mourning Dove

Common Nighthawk

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

Wood Thrush

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Cedar Waxwing

European starling

Tennessee Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler **

Bay-breasted Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Ovenbird

Common Yellowthroat

Field Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

American Goldfinch