Finley 2/7

[Lisa Millbank]

Finley, 2/7

 

At the prairie overlook this morning there were two NORTHERN SHRIKES, an adult and a youngster.  The shrikes and the WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were singing, although the constant barrage of gunfire from the shooting range to the north made it a bit difficult to enjoy.  (Charlton Heston surely would be proud of that place!)  A pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES were hanging around, and we watched a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK hover while facing into the brisk northeast wind.  An adult BALD EAGLE flew by.

 

At Woodpecker Loop, a very busy female HAIRY WOODPECKER was working right beside the trail.  She let us get close and she frequently let out her loud "squeak" call.  Don has a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7ELdSDzpsM.  I attached a photo of her as well.  We enjoyed watching a male and a female NORTHERN HARRIER (see photo of female). 

 

A Brush Rabbit was in the coniferous forest north of Bald Top.  There are many non-native Eastern Cottontails at Finley.  In fact, if you look up Brush Rabbit on Wikipedia, someone has posted a picture of an Eastern Cottontail taken at Finley, mistakenly identifying him as a Brush Rabbit!  Generally, bunnies with bright white, fluffy "cotton tails" are Eastern Cottontails; Brush Rabbits have very little white under the tail.  Eastern Cottontails love to sprawl and lounge on the lawn at the Finley headquarters, and are found in brushy hedgerows everywhere, but they don't seem to live in deep forest of any kind.  There are also a few Black-tailed Jackrabbits (rare) near the south end of Finley, in the Christmas tree farms.  Bobcat and Coyote tracks were in the vicinity of the Brush Rabbit.  I'm sure that a bunny dinner is always on their minds.

 

At Cabell and McFadden Marshes, we didn't see or hear a single Tundra Swan.  A few weeks ago, there were hundreds.  I wonder if they'll be back.

 

Back at the prairie overlook, a PEREGRINE FALCON made a pass at some CACKLING GEESE out on the prairie.  He was unsuccessful, but tried again at another flock of cacklers.  He moved stealthily like a Cooper's Hawk, just gliding a few feet over the ground and lurking in a tree.  We met Sallie, the new refuge staff person, and we all watched for Short-eared Owls, with no luck tonight.       

 

Lisa

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