On a beautiful, unusually still day, we saw 82 bird species. There are still a
lot of white geese but it appears that several thousand have left due to a lack
of food. There are still lots of ducks in the marshes but it is hard to tell
how many because a lot of them are staying in the vegetation. Gulls are
hanging out in Steedman marsh. From Sandy point we observed one group of 18
Canvasbacks. There are a couple of American Bitterns hanging out in Taylor
marsh near the entrance to Egret Pad. They can be difficult to see because
they are feeding in the Smartweed. The Goode Area was very good with sightings
of numerous Brown Creepers, American Goldfinches, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a
Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, lots of Tufted
Titmice and other species. The Long-billed Dowitchers and Least Sandpipers
continue in Deaver Pond. There have been sightings of Purple Finches on the
refuge but we were unable to find any today.
http://ebird.org/ebird/iss/view/checklist/S33231736
Jack Chiles, Texas master naturalist and volunteer, Hagerman NWR.
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