By Tom Schultz, WSO field trip committee
It was beautiful dawn at White River Marsh, with clear skies and calm winds – even though the early morning temperature was only about 35 degrees. Our group of about 20 gathered along White River Road, and soon began a slow walk down the gravel roadway.
The marsh was alive with bird song, with SORA and VIRGINIA RAILS calling, and SWAMP SPARROWS singing in all directions. AMERICAN BITTERNS were sounding off, along with CANADA GEESE, SANDHILL CRANES, and a few MARSH WRENS. A pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS were calling to the south, and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON flew by.
Sora - Photo by Tom Schultz
As we hiked down the road, other species were soon noted, including YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and SEDGE WREN. On a small oak island we added EASTERN TOWHEE, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, HOUSE WREN, and we heard then saw a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Photo by Tom Schultz
After returning to our cars, we headed east to Big Island Road and added BOBOLINK and EASTERN MEADOWLARK to our list. We took Hopp Road to the south, and were pleased to get great looks at a pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, along with YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, an EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and several other species.
Back along Big Island Road we spotted PURPLE MARTIN, GREEN HERON, BALD EAGLES on a nest, EASTERN PHOEBE, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and TREE, BARN and CLIFF SWALLOWS. From there we headed west on Hwy. D and spotted a couple of AMERICAN KESTRELS along the wires. On the west side of the marsh we found a WHOOPING CRANE feeding in an old cornfield, which was a pleasant surprise for the group!
We stopped along the Fox River on White River Road, and enjoyed watching a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER for a while, and then we drove back along a dead end road that passed through some mature pine trees. Here we found a pair of PINE WARBLERS, along with a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER. We also heard a PILEATED WOODPECKER, but otherwise this area was fairly quiet.
Following a rest stop in Princeton, the group headed down to the village of Marquette – to a boat landing on Lake Puckaway. We added a number of new birds there, including AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, FORSTER’S, COMMON and BLACK TERNS, HERRING and RING-BILLED GULLS, and AMERICAN COOTS and NORTHERN SHOVELERS.
American White Pelicans - Photo by Tom Schultz
A 10-minute stop at the bridge at the east end of Grand River Marsh added SOLITARY SANDPIPER, CEDAR WAXWING, and CLIFF SWALLOW, and then we continued on to a pond on Lake Maria Road, where we found a few COMMON MERGANSERS and GADWALLS, but not many ducks. We did manage to find a variety of shorebirds there, working the muddy edges, including KILLDEER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, DUNLIN, and PECTORAL, LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS.
We finished our field trip about 1:00 PM at Lake Maria, where the temperature had risen to 65 degrees. We didn’t add many new birds there, with the lake being surprisingly empty, but we did find LESSER SCAUP and RUDDY DUCK.
Our bird list for the day totaled 96 species, which surprised us, since a number of expected birds had been absent, and we had only found 5 species of warblers. Thanks to everyone who participated in this fun event!
