The conditions for today's census were better than in the last few weeks.
It was cool, cloudy and calm. The lake is rising as a result of all of the
recent rains. Most of the refuge is still open with the exception of the
crossover between Egret and Tern pads. There are no mudflats so the only
shorebird I saw today was Killdeer. The only migrant I saw today was an
Olive-sided Flycatcher. I could not find an Eastern Kingbird, a bird that
has been more plentiful this year than I can remember in past migrations.
I saw 3 Least Terns flying around but no indication that they are thinking
about nesting on the pads. The Red-headed Woodpeckers were present near
the photo blind on Harris Creek Trail and at Dead Woman Pond. There is
evidence of wind damage most everywhere on the refuge. I finished the day
with 62 species and I am longing for the days when we can do the census as
a group in the van again.
https://ebird.org/checklist/email?subID=S69676068
Jack Chiles, Texas master naturalist and volunteer, Hagerman NWR
