Monday, March 16, 2009

Southmost Open House March 14


It was a cold, wet, windy day on Saturday at the Lennox Foundation Southmost Preserve of The Nature Conservancy. This normally closed property was open for an open house.

David Benn and I were joined by Jennifer Owen, Huck Hutchens, and Tom Pendleton to lead birdwalks for those interested. Note to self: Next time, notify the birds! Seriously, the waterbirds were plentiful even if the landbirds were staying out of the wind. We had flyby Sandhill Crane, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Wilson's Phalarope, a single Greater Scaup, and more widespread species of ducks and shorebirds on the resacas. Swallows put on a show with Barn and Cliff Swallows joining the abundant Tree and Rough-winged Swallows. A Sora marched out in the open briefly. Ringed Kingfishers were seen by both groups. Cassin's Sparrows flushed ahead of the group on our way back from the marsh. We had fun but we were glad to get out of the wind at the end of the morning.
Here's the designated greeter, an immature male Vermilion Flycatcher.