I was at Eagle Bluffs CA in Boone County from 7am-9:45am this morning with two goals: to catch some fish and see some sparrows.

On my (very foggy) drive in before sunrise I started seeing (and hearing) INDIGO BUNTINGS absolutely everywhere. I conservatively estimate that there were ~50-60 individuals throughout the area this morning. A quick stop on the way in also yielded my first sparrows of the day: SWAMP, WHITE-CROWNED and LINCOLN'S.  

I pretty much just drove straight back to the Perche Creek access point near pools 14 and 15 without stopping, but I along the way I saw: AMERICAN COOT, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN PINTAIL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE and a lot of GREAT BLUE HERONS. While fishing a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK took off from across the creek. After fishing for about 45 minutes (White Bass were biting...it was hard to leave) I decided to use the rest of my time looking for some Ammodramus sp. 

On the drive back out there were several BLUE-WINGED TEAL in Pool 11 and a few GREAT EGRETS near Pool 8. I also passed a few COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, a single BLUE GROSBEAK in with the Indigo Buntings and a few WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. 

I wasn't sure which field to look for sparrows in, but I ended up stopping in the parking lot for Pool 4. I thought I was going to be in short grass, but most of the grass was waist high or higher (I'm 5'10"). I flushed a few SWAMP and SONG SPARROWS right away, so I kept walking and walking and walking. I believe I flushed at least 7 individual SORA, but I would bet that there were closer to 10 in the field. Eventually, I found what I was looking for! Several Ammodramus sp. popped up around me, both LE CONTE'S and NELSON'S (at one point one of each was perched up about 10 ft. from each other). I only saw 2 NELSON'S at any one time, but I counted 7 LE CONTE'S all perched up at one time, and I believe there were even more out there. A few of the Le Conte's popped up very close to me: http://picasaweb.google.com/rndouglas/MissouriWildlife#5526067413679167298 and some were too close for my camera lens's close focus point (3.5m!). On the walk back out I flushed a White-tailed Deer, a few MARSH WRENS and a SEDGE WREN.

Good birding,
Ryan
Columbia, Boone County


Ryan Douglas
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