[birdky] Minor Clark Fish Hatchery

I contacted the director of the fish hatchery to see if they were draining any ponds. They have begun draining a few ponds 2 days a week and will increase to 3-4 days a week in September so I made the trip this morning. There were several ponds drained at the front but they have some sort of covering material/tarp lining the bottom of them. Further back there were 2 ponds (33 and 34) that were suitable and one had some nice shorebirds. This was Pond #33.

Killdeer - 20+
Least Sandpipers - 8-10
Short-billed Dowitchers - 2
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1
Stilt Sandpiper - 1
Pectoral Sandpipers - 3
Solitary Sandpiper - 1

I got there at 8am. Around 9 am something really spooked them. After that time they spooked several times....each time not all that had been present would come back. I looked high and low for what might have set them off (like the "Bad Boy Peregrine") but never found anything. I left around 10:30 and the Stilt, Pectorals, and Greater Yellowlegs were not around. I don't know if they left or were just hiding along the edges.

There were also plenty of Little Green Herons but only 1 Great Blue Heron.

At home, I'm proud to report that my Red-headed Woodpeckers returned again. I've counted 3 adults and 2 juveniles although there may be more.....just what I've been able to see at the same time. Last year I had 4 adults and 3 juveniles.

I'll probably post some images later this evening. I haven't had a chance to download them yet as I'm trying to set up a new laptop.

Lana Hays
www.lanahays.com



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