Water levels look favorable for a good season of roosting, and the cranes seem more confident coming in than they were last year.  The sky was cloudy this afternoon, with only a few patches of blue breaking out.  Some sunlight peeked through the openings to cast a bit of gold on the marsh, but overall it was muted.  50 visitors came out to view the cranes coming in and enjoy the mild evening.  It was still warm enough for a few mosquitoes, but at dusk we were helped by a bat (probably a big brown) who was feeding and hopefully ate a few dozen.  

Our weekly count continues to increase, albeit slowly.  In addition to the 88 cranes landing in the marsh, 14 were fly-bys who sought another venue for the evening.  We’re hoping to break 100 next week.  

Crane counters:    Don Henise and Gary Siegrist

Submitted by Steve Jerant

Crane Count-88

Species count-38

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Turkey Vulture

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Blue-winged Teal

Northern Harrier

Cooper's Hawk

American Coot

Sandhill Crane

Yellowlegs (species)

Mourning Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Blue Jay

American Crow

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Cedar Waxwing

Tennessee Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Northern Cardinal

Field Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

American Goldfinch