A morning at Middle Creek Wildlife Area

After the very heavy rain storms we had last evening, I decided it would be a good morning to check out MCWMA.

I arrived around 8:15am and began my morning by checking the ponds at Stop 1. Not much was on the ponds - a few Canada Geese and 2 Great Blue Herons on the water. The fringe area around the ponds was very active with birds as I recorded 21 species before I left the area - including willow flycacther, yellow warbler, common yellow throated warbler, eastern kingbird and tree, barn & northern rough winged swallows before moving on.

Common Yellow Throated Warbler

Great Blue Heron

I next made my way to stop 3 and the scoped the fields overlooking the lake area and added another 12 species including Eastern Meadowlark signing in the fields.

Eastern Meadowlark - singing away

After I finished scanning the fields I continue along the tour road toward the cul-de-sac area ponds. As I approached the area, I caught a 'flash' something sitting in a tangle of brush near the ponds. After finding a place to park, I scanned the area and much to my surprise - spotted a Black Crowned Night Heron and a Green Heron sitting the brush about 10 feet from each other. BCN Herons are fairly common in our area, but very rare at MCMWA - only the fourth time I ever saw one here.

Black Crowned Night Heron

I next continue on the tour road toward the fields where Bobolinks seen. I pulled up and wasn't disappointed, as I heard several Bobolinks signing and  spotted several in flight along with many tree swallows and more eastern Meadowlarks.

Bobolink

Tree Swallows

I next went to the where I had previously seen and heard Yellow Throated Vireo's - and sure enough the Vireo was present again today - along with several red Eyed Vireo's. I finished the morning back at stop 1 and spotted a Red Tailed Hawk (no eagle's today) and a Baltimore Oriole to end the day.

 

Total species for the day was 57 in 3 hours of birding -a very good morning indeed.