Our first stop today was back at the south end of Muskiki lake where we watched the large flock of Whooping Cranes feeding in the fields and water areas. Lots of activity overhead with 5 species of geese and 100's of Sandhill Cranes. With the stronger winds today, land birds were more difficult to locate but we did managed to have a good view of a Harris's Sparrow and a few Western Meadowlarks. Around the lake we observed 120+ Bonaparte's Gull, 14 Franklin Gull, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Northern Harrier, 2 Red-tailed Hawk and a few small flocks of Horned Lark. Most sloughs had a good variety of ducks including Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Redhead, and Ruddy Duck and plenty of American Coots.
Whooping Cranes in flight. 5 adults and 1 juvenile.
4 Adults and 2 juvenile in flight.
A mixed flock of Snow and Ross's Geese.
A juvenile Horned Lark along the roadside.
Family group of Greater White-fronted Geese
Geese were everywhere.
Female Canvasback in flight.
One of the most common puddle ducks, the Northern Shoveler is easy to identify by its large bill.
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