The spring explosion of avian life that I hoped to observe at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area did not pan out this morning. Strong southerly winds kept songbirds hunkered down in the tall grass and thickets and a lone common yellowthroat was the only summer songbird that we encountered.
On the other hand, there were hundreds of blue-winged teal, a large number of northern shovelers, moderate sized flocks of American coot and a fair number of shorebirds on the Missouri River floodplain; the latter were represented by greater and lesser yellowlegs and pectoral sandpipers. Other sightings included great egrets, great bluer herons and a belted kingfisher; not to be ignored, turkey vultures provided an ongoing aerial display, soaring and swooping in the persistent wind.
But the highlight of our visit was provided by eleven bald eagles, four adults and seven immatures. Clearly still bunched in family groups, these large raptors had settled on islets and mudflats amidst the broad, shallow pools, the young still dependent on the hunting skills of their parents. A few older juveniles, now self-reliant, were also observed. Any disappointment related to the absence of summer songbirds was more than assuaged by this spring gathering of eagles.
