Southwest Iowa 2006

May 28, 2006

The IOU Field Trip to SW Iowa (mostly Fremont County) took place today under trying conditions- strong wind, up to 93 degreees, and rapidly-disappearing water. In reality a tour of the area, with some birds thrown in. Actually, we didn't do too badly though. Nice group- Dick and Sharon Stilwell, Charlie and Gretel Winterwood, Ted Harms, and Diana Pesek.

Started at 4.45am at the "Chuck Spot" north of Waubonsie State Park, but struck out. Did have a Whip fly around us though. At Waubonsie SP had a singing male Summer Tan in the open, and a singing No. Parula doing the same. Tried Manti Woods in hopes of Oporornis, but no luck except for a probable Kentucky- song seemed good; somewhat yellowthroat-like, it sang in the woods at about 10-15 ft, but I couldn't get a bead on it. Didn't sound quite the same as the many I hear and see at Indian Cave St Park in SE Nebraska. No migrants.

Riverton was tough- distant birds, and not a huge number. Most that we could identify were White-rumpeds, with a dowitcher sp, 2 Black-bellied Plovers, a yellowlegs. We saw nothing that would induce us into slogging through the veg and muck (alas, no Whimbrels or other tall birds).

Secret Pond was about dried up, but had 18 White-rumpeds. Drove around on the bottoms west of Percival and had a couple of Bell's Vireos, a fly-by Blue Grosbeak, a Lark Sparrow, but nothing else of note (abundant Dickcissels and Orchard Orioles- more young males than adult birds).

On to our last stop- the Mid-American Ponds, where we checked the north pond from the road and saw about 7 Least Terns, including one apparently incubating (same place as yesterday). Good that we did, as none were at the south pond, and no Piping Plovers were at the north pond! South Pond was nice- an incubating Piping Plover along with 4 others; a Wilson's Phalarope, 4 Sanderlings in almost complete alt plumage. The group broke up after that, at around 2.30 pm.

-- Ross Silcock