Despite dire warnings from the Weather Channel, I was determined to visit the Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, in north-central Missouri, as planned. The first squall line hit just east of Brunswick and several more followed over the next two hours; but between these torrential downpours, warm, sunny conditions enticed numerous birds and mammals onto the flooded fields and marsh-lands. Finally, by mid morning, the front had pushed through and cool, cloudy weather prevailed.
Established in 1937 to protect habitat for wintering and migrant waterfowl, the Refuge is a mosaic of cropfields, lakes, wetlands and riparian woodlands. Today's residents included large flocks of snow geese, smaller (but no less noisy) flocks of Canada geese and a wide variety of ducks. At least 100 American white pelicans settled on Swan Lake during my visit and I saw eight bald eagles through the morning. Other common birds included meadowlarks, red-winged blackbirds, killdeer, American kestrels, ring-billed gulls, red-headed woodpeckers and horned larks. Mammals were also stirred by the heavy rains, including small herds of white tailed deer that splashed across the fields and a handful of coyotes. An unexpected finding was a flock of tree swallows, cruising above a roadside slough; this is the earliest that I have ever seen this species in Missouri, no doubt a reflection of our recent strong, southerly winds.
Swan Lake NWR is just northwest of Mendon, Missouri, with access off routes CC (from the east) and 114 (from the north); route RA, south of Sumner, is the most direct route to the Visitor Center. As is evident from the above narrative, March is an excellent time to visit the refuge.
