When I arrived at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this afternoon, the landscape had the clean-edged look of winter. Pockets of snow dappled the fields and high clouds filtered the sunshine. The dry, cool air was crystal clear, a pair of bald eagles soared above the Missouri River floodplain and A Horse with No Name played on my Beetle's radio. Yes, it was heaven in winter!
Once in the refuge, I found that most of the pools were frozen but that the central channel remained open, attracting an excellent variety of waterfowl. Green-winged teal were especially abundant, joining large numbers of Canada geese, northern shovelers, mallards and gadwall. A modest-sized flock of ring-necked ducks was present, as were three northern pintails, a female canvasback, a female lesser scaup and a lone trumpeter swan. Other sightings included ring-billed gulls, great blue herons, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, meadowlarks, white-crowned sparrows and a large congregation of American crows.
Since the duck hunting season is over, about 2/3 of Eagle Bluffs is now accessible, allowing visitors to spread out and enjoy the tranquility that such a large refuge offers. Parking my VW at various locations on the floodplain, I enjoyed the scenery, fresh air and solitude at least as much as the wildlife.
