This morning, a friend as well as I visited Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area where large flocks of American white pelicans moved higher upwards the floodplain, congregating at a unmarried pool. We had counted 740 of those magnificent birds when other flocks began to cash inward one's chips inward from the north, gliding southward higher upwards the Missouri River Valley. We estimated that a full of 1100 pelicans visited the refuge on this sunny, cool morning, stopping to balance as well as feed on their journeying to the Gulf Coast.
Were it non for the pelicans, our catch to Eagle Bluffs would accept been disappointing. The southern one-half of the refuge was chained off (reason uncertain) as well as other aeroplane species were relatively express inward release as well as variety; exclusively large flocks of red-winged blackbirds rivaled the pelicans. Several double-crested cormorants pigeon for breakfast inward the fundamental channel, a distich dozen great-blue herons stalked the shallow pools as well as thirty-five bully egrets moved well-nigh the refuge. Shorebirds were express to a dozen greater yellowlegs as well as a lonely killdeer as well as raptors were represented exclusively past times kestrels as well as turkey vultures. Canada geese as well as mallards were the exclusively waterfowl that nosotros observed, a rare lack of diverseness for mid October; every bit discussed inward an before post, I suspect that the extensive floodwaters upstream are disrupting the park schedule of waterfowl migration this autumn.
Perhaps the large release of migrant pelicans volition examine to travel the vanguard of waterfowl migrations to follow. Regardless, the sight of these graceful birds, flapping as well as gliding higher upwards the floodplain, was both welcome as well as inspiring.
Were it non for the pelicans, our catch to Eagle Bluffs would accept been disappointing. The southern one-half of the refuge was chained off (reason uncertain) as well as other aeroplane species were relatively express inward release as well as variety; exclusively large flocks of red-winged blackbirds rivaled the pelicans. Several double-crested cormorants pigeon for breakfast inward the fundamental channel, a distich dozen great-blue herons stalked the shallow pools as well as thirty-five bully egrets moved well-nigh the refuge. Shorebirds were express to a dozen greater yellowlegs as well as a lonely killdeer as well as raptors were represented exclusively past times kestrels as well as turkey vultures. Canada geese as well as mallards were the exclusively waterfowl that nosotros observed, a rare lack of diverseness for mid October; every bit discussed inward an before post, I suspect that the extensive floodwaters upstream are disrupting the park schedule of waterfowl migration this autumn.
Perhaps the large release of migrant pelicans volition examine to travel the vanguard of waterfowl migrations to follow. Regardless, the sight of these graceful birds, flapping as well as gliding higher upwards the floodplain, was both welcome as well as inspiring.
No comments:
Post a Comment