Back in Missouri, I made a bee-line down to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, one of the best birding locations in the Midwest. Initially greeted by dense fog and cool air, the skies cleared within a half hour and the birding, as usual, was excellent. On the other hand, flooding along the Missouri River spilled across large portions of this floodplain refuge, having a significant impact on the mix of species.
Swallows dominated the scene, strafing the pools and flooded fields; within that group, cliff swallows were by far the most numerous, joined by their tree, northern rough-winged and barn cousins. Indigo buntings were also abundant, far outnumbering dickcissels and American goldfinches that shared the shrinking grasslands; a pair of blue grosbeaks and a couple of lark sparrows were the highlights in that habitat. Woodland sightings included Baltimore and orchard orioles, red-bellied and red-headed woodpeckers, yellow-breasted chats, yellow warblers and a lone male magnolia warbler. Despite the extensive flooding, waterfowl were limited to Canada geese, blue-winged teal, a have dozen coot, a few northern shovelers and a token number of mallards; conversely, perhaps due to the flooding, raptors were limited to bald eagles and a lone kestrel.
No doubt, I'll be back at Eagle Bluffs several more times before I return to Colorado; whether the flooding persists (or not) will depend on the whims of Mother Nature and, to some degree, the water management decisions of refuge personnel. Regardless of the water levels, each visit will surely offer unique and unexpected sightings.
Swallows dominated the scene, strafing the pools and flooded fields; within that group, cliff swallows were by far the most numerous, joined by their tree, northern rough-winged and barn cousins. Indigo buntings were also abundant, far outnumbering dickcissels and American goldfinches that shared the shrinking grasslands; a pair of blue grosbeaks and a couple of lark sparrows were the highlights in that habitat. Woodland sightings included Baltimore and orchard orioles, red-bellied and red-headed woodpeckers, yellow-breasted chats, yellow warblers and a lone male magnolia warbler. Despite the extensive flooding, waterfowl were limited to Canada geese, blue-winged teal, a have dozen coot, a few northern shovelers and a token number of mallards; conversely, perhaps due to the flooding, raptors were limited to bald eagles and a lone kestrel.
No doubt, I'll be back at Eagle Bluffs several more times before I return to Colorado; whether the flooding persists (or not) will depend on the whims of Mother Nature and, to some degree, the water management decisions of refuge personnel. Regardless of the water levels, each visit will surely offer unique and unexpected sightings.
