It's that time of year again - Sora Time at Swan Lake! Must be about peak time for them like I expected, they were thick in many places. I kept a running count as I went around and ended up with 125, mostly heard. This is actually about 100 less than my high count several years ago.  I tried to count them by location heard as a couple of Sora calling at the same time can easily sound like half a dozen. I'm sure there were many more I did not detect. They are pretty vocal in the Fall and may respond to about any loud noise. 

Some of the other birds at the reuge today;

 

White Pelican - 200+

Great Egret - 65+ 

Blue-winged Teal - 100's , plus other brown fall Ducks

 10 species of Shorebirds, nothing unusual

Cooper's Hawk - 2 at same place

Bald Eagle - 1 adult near nest

Black Tern - a few

Great Horned Owl - out early at 5:30 pm

 Marsh Wren - 5

Red-headed Woodpecker - noisy flocks here too

Savannah Sparrow - 2

Red-winged Blackbirds - big numbers coming in to roost in Swan lake Pool at dusk

 other usual suspects.

 

Hopefully will be other rails coming in before long - and will soon be Swallow Time and Sparrow Time! 

 

later,

 Steve Kinder

Chillicothe, Livingston Co.