Doug Willis and I birded most of the day in northwestern Missouri.  
Highlights included one GLOSSY IBIS and four WHITE-FACED IBIS at Bean  
Lake (Platte Co.); at least 40 WHITE-FACED IBIS (40 in one group and  
6 in another), two BLACK-NECKED STILTS, and one drake CINNAMON TEAL  
at Squaw Creek NWR (Holt Co.).

I met Doug at Weston Bend SP (Platte Co.) around 8:30 a.m. where he  
had been birding since sunrise. Activity had slowed down by the time  
I got there, but his highlights included:

Hermit Thrush - several
White-eyed Vireos
Yellow-throated Vireos
Orange-crowned Warblers - 20+

We moved on to the south end of Bean Lake (Platte Co.). Highlights:

Cattle Egret - 5+
GLOSSY IBIS - 1
WHITE-FACED IBIS - 4

On the way up to the St. Joseph oxbows, Doug spotted one SWAINSON'S  
HAWK sitting on a plowed field along Hwy 59.

At Muskrat Lake (Buchanan Co.), we missed Larry Lade's 11 White-faced  
Ibis, but did see six AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and we heard a  
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.

Lake Contrary (Buchanan Co.) had a good number of shorebirds.  
Highlights:

Willet - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
...Also a curious [apparent hybrid] duck that had the overall shape  
of a Bufflehead, but none of the plumage characteristics -- instead  
it was shades of cream and tan, with some small white patches on the  
wing. A very attractive but very odd duck.

On to Squaw Creek NWR (Holt Co.), where we were rewarded with:

CINNAMON TEAL - 1 among N. Shovelers in Snow Goose Pool (one of the  
southern units)
WHITE-FACED IBIS - 6 in Mallard Marsh; 40 (!) in Snow Goose Pool
Swainson's Hawk - 1 on recently burned area near the moist soil units
PEREGRINE FALCON - 1 strafing the 40 WF Ibis in Snow Goose Pool
Sora - 1 heard in the marshy area adjacent to the south end of  
Pelican Pool
Semipalmated Plover - 3 in Mallard Marsh
BLACK-NECKED STILT - 2 in Mallard Marsh
...And another odd duck here, this one showing characteristics of  
Green-winged Teal and possibly American Wigeon.

Non-avian highlight of the day was a fantastic look at a Massasauga  
Rattlesnake -- a first for both of us.

Kristi Mayo
Kearney MO (Clay Co.)
[log in to unmask]

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