On our return to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area early this morning, a friend and I were greeted by overcast skies, mild air and a calm wind, perfect for birdwatching. Once again, water was limited to the central channel and a few shallow pools; to make matters worse, teal hunters had staked out positions along these limited waterways and their decoys far outnumbered live waterfowl.
Despite the ideal viewing conditions, birds were few and far between. The highlight of the morning proved to be eleven pied-billed grebes; other sightings included a handful of great egrets, a green heron, four wood ducks, a couple of belted kingfishers and a sharp-shinned hawk. In the end, we only encountered twelve avian species (though we did see a young skunk and a few deer).
As always, it was a pleasant drive across the Missouri River floodplain and we will return regularly to document any "wetland restoration." Unfortunately, half of the refuge will be closed down for hunting (and as a wintering waterfowl refuge) in another two weeks.
