We spent this mild February day in six areas of the refuge. Near the Visitor’s Center, we identified Carolina wren, red-winged blackbird, fish crow, and a flock of snow geese overhead. Some of the birds we identified at Raymond Pool were northern shoveler, great blue heron, northern pintail, bald eagle, green-winged teal, bufflehead, and song sparrow. We saw 23 species in Shearness Pool including mallard, ruddy duck, American black duck, Canada goose, tundra swan, ring-billed gull, ring-necked gull, American coot, mute swan, red-shouldered hawk, and American wigeon. Large flocks of about 1,000-2,000 snow geese flew over the road from the farms and landed in the water on the bay side. We only identified turkey vulture, blue jay, Canada goose, red-winged blackbird, mallard, and song sparrow. There were a lot of birds in Bear Swamp Pool including northern pintail, bald eagle, northern harrier, tundra swan greater yellowlegs, and green-winged teal. We only saw five species along the Boardwalk Trail. The highlight was two bald eagles in the distant trees, one of which was sitting in its nest.
MY PHOTOS: northern shoveler, ruddy duck, northern pintail, snow goose, sharp-shinned hawk, great blue heron, bald eagle
