Our January trip to Edwin B. Forsythe NWR and Motts Creek had a number of great birds. It was a beautiful day, mild for January, and we had a plethora of duck species including: Common, Hooded, and Red-breasted Mergansers; Gadwall; Bufflehead; Northern Pintails; American Wigeon; Mallards; and scaup (sp). There were great looks at Tundra Swans, Snow Geese (with a few Blue Geese in the mix), and a Snowy Owl that was dive-bombed by a Northern Harrier. We had a perched Rough-legged Hawk in all the scopes, distant looks at a Golden Eagle, the usual pair of Peregrine Falcons perched on the hacking tower, and Bald Eagles spooking large flocks of Snow Geese.
While Forsythe was spectacular, Motts Creek was breathtaking! Thanks to the generosity of the bar/restaurant we were able to set up scopes on their deck. Close Short-eared Owls were in abundance with three in the air simultaneously, and at least six different owls in total. There were several Rough-legged Hawks-- one perched on a post about 40 yards away from us. The magic moment came near dusk when a Peregrine Falcon streaked across the marsh almost in the grass right in front of us. It kicked up a flock of Black Ducks and picked off the trailing duck. They tumbled down into the spartina grass. We watched the death struggle as they fought in the grass. Moments after the Peregrine had dispatched the duck a Rough-legged Hawk swooped in and stole the Peregrine's dinner. The disgruntled Peregrine made several passes at the hawk and then perched on a sign in the marsh glaring at his rival. As the hawk ripped into the duck, a Bald Eagle began to dive at it. The Rough-legged Hawk prevailed and the eagle flew off. What a grand end to a special day! Leaders: Karen Johnson, Chuck & Mary Jane Slugg, Chris Marks, Mary Watkins, and Barb Bassett.
Edwin B. Forsythe NWR--Wildlife Drive
37 species (+1 other taxa)
Snow Goose 2000
Canada Goose 150
Mute Swan 6
Tundra Swan 100 conservative estimate
Gadwall 30
American Wigeon 10
American Black Duck 250
Mallard 60
Blue-winged Teal 1 Continuing
Northern Shoveler 5
Northern Pintail 85
Canvasback 20
Ring-necked Duck 10
Greater/Lesser Scaup 20
Bufflehead 40
Hooded Merganser 45
Common Merganser 10
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 6
Golden Eagle 1 sub-adult Found by Tom Reed
Northern Harrier 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rough-legged Hawk 1
Dunlin 30
Herring Gull (American) 75
Great Black-backed Gull 8
Mourning Dove 1
Snowy Owl 1 continuing female
Peregrine Falcon 2
Blue Jay 1
Carolina Wren 1
American Tree Sparrow 1
Seaside Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Common Grackle 1
Edwin B. Forsythe NWR--Motts Creek
14 species
Canada Goose 30
Mute Swan 2
Tundra Swan 4
American Black Duck 6
Great Blue Heron 2
Northern Harrier 6
Bald Eagle 1
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Herring Gull (American) 4
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 6
Short-eared Owl 5 not unusual for this location
Peregrine Falcon 1
European Starling 25
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
