Nine ML Birders made the trip to the refuge that was enhanced by a nice sunny day. We started birding around the parking area checking for land birds. Yellow-rumps were very abundant although we did pick up House Finches, Robins and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. The best birding by far was along the eight mile wildlife loop where the “gems” of the refuge (waterfowl and shorebirds) are to be found. We saw a nice variety of ducks, two swan species, two wader species, three species of geese, two grebe species, cormorants, three gull species, a tern and an early arriving loon. Shorebirds were dominated almost exclusively by Dunlin with a couple of Yellowlegs along the way. If we took the time to scope them out we might have picked up a few more shorebird species.

Raptors seen were a Northern Harrier hunting over the marsh, a Cooper’s Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk and Turkey Vultures. We usually pick up a Bald Eagle but missed it this time. Total for the day was 43 species. Lunch was at Shea’s new location about three miles down the road from its old spot.

Participants: Joe Costanza, Gil Goering, Robert Koch, Kay Smith, Miriam Swartz, Jean and Chris Tindall, Louise Tompkins and Ro Wilson.