Mobirders:
More excellent shorebird habitat at Otter Slough,
with the additional
rain. There are three large moist soil
units harboring large #'s of
shorebirds near the intersection of Conservation
Ln. and 870 Express
(both are gravel roads). As one enters Otter Slough
CA from Hwy. ZZ
(near the Hwy. ZZ and Hwy. H junction), go 1 mile
on County Rd. 675
(gravel) until you reach Conservation Ln. Turn
right on Conservation Ln.
and proceed around the main lakes (the lakes will
be on your left) until
you reach 870 Express (gravel
road). Continuing forward on Conservation
Ln. and good shorebird habitat exists on the right.
Turning right on 870
Express and the shorebird habitat is on your
left about 1/4 mile. At this
spot, the birds are VERY close; close enough for
binocular views.
Continuing on 870 Express, bearing left where the
road becomes County
Rd. 691, will take you to Pool 22S. You can park on
top of the levee
and scope for waders and shorebirds here. The light
is best in the evening.
From Pool 22S, continue south on CR 691 a short
distance and turn left
on CR 670. CR 670 is the southern boundary of Otter
Slough, basically.
Go east on CR 670 until the first left turn onto a
gravel road. This road goes
around a treeline sheltering a ditch. Good habitat
exists on the west side
of the treeline, and to a lesser degree, on the
east side.
Birds observed near the intersection of
Conservation Ln and 870 Express:
Pectoral Sandpiper-220
Killdeer-145
Gr. Yellowlegs-10
Lesser Yellowlegs-12
Semipalmated Plover-1
Peep, spp-115
I could identify Least and
Semipalmated S'pipers. Studied one peep with
a substantially longer
bill that I am calling a Western)
Black Necked Stilt-23
Other birds:
Dowitcher, spp-4
Ruddy Duck
Solitary S'piper
Black Necked Stilt-60(!)
AND on the way home:
RUFFED GROUSE-1
Hwy. A, about 4 miles east of Cherokee Pass. Nearly
a dead Ruffed Grouse...
flew about 10 feet in front of my car! Bold flank
streaking plainly visible.
Black subterminal tail band noted, as well as a
faint white terminal tail band.
Rufous upperparts. Somewhat crested head.Underwings
grayish.
Doug Willis
Farmington, MO
St.
Francois County
tbarnes @ i1.net
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