On Monday we had a beautiful night at the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary to watch the cranes come in.  Traffic was slow but steady and we broke the 100 mark for the season-always an event.  The cranes arrived from all directions and we had some coming and going as in previous years with some leaving the marsh and 55 “fly-bys.”  Several groups flew directly above the overlook so the dozen visitors we had on the property were able to get a close look.  A juvenile was heard in one of the groups.

 

Other highlight species seen or heard include several Bald Eagles, a flicker that seemed to want a lot of attention, and flyovers of American Kestrel and Pileated Woodpecker.

You can view past postings and historical crane counting data at http://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/crane-count and the Blog page at the JAS site at http://jacksonaudubon.org/

Crane counters:    Robyn Henise, Don Henise, Ross Green, and Gary Siegrist
Compiler:  Steve Jerant
Submitted by Steve Jerant

Crane Count-151

Species count- 36

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

American Black Duck

Mallard

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Sandhill Crane

Mourning Dove

Chimney Swift

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Tree Swallow

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Cedar Waxwing

Common Yellowthroat

Northern Cardinal

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

American Goldfinch