Submitted by Robyn Henise

Thirty-three visitors were treated to a spectacular afternoon at the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary.  As the sun was setting, the sky over the Mud Lake Marsh changed from golden yellow to deep purple and finally to deep red.

Many species of birds were tallied for the day and they are listed below.  Of note were 9 Wilson's Snipe that flew past the overlook and 2 Greater Yellowlegs were heard from the overlook.  68 Sandhill Cranes come in at dusk to roost in the marsh.  

Crane counters:    Don Henise and Robyn Henise

Crane Count-68

Species count-45

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

American Black Duck

Mallard

Wild Turkey

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Cooper's Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Coot

Sandhill Crane

Greater Yellowlegs

Wilson's Snipe

Herring Gull

Mourning Dove

Great Horned Owl (2 heard calling to each other)

Chimney Swift

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Kestrel

Eastern Phoebe

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Cedar Waxwing

Common Yellowthroat

Magnolia Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Field Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

American Goldfinch