Birds Mentioned:
Oldsquaw
Thayer's Gull
Common Crane (Nebraska)
Pileated Woodpecker
Tundra Swan
Ross's Goose
Hooded Merganser
Red-shouldered Hawk
Pine Siskin
Peregrine Falcon
Golden Eagle
The winter-like weather has pretty much brought migration to a standstill,
but there are some pretty impressive numbers of waterfowl in the state,
especially in the south. Highlight birds this week are OLDSQUAW and THAYER'S
GULL in the southeast. Neighbor Nebraska reports a COMMON CRANE on the 6th
and 7th. Call the Nebraska RBA for updates at
(402) 292-5325.
In the southeast in Johnson County, the female OLDSQUAW continues on the
Iowa River at Iowa City. The bird which is molting into alternate plumage
has been most recently reported on the 5th in the area of the Iowa Memorial
Union and the UI Art Museum. On the 7th, a first year THAYER'S GULL was seen
where hiway 965 and I-380 cross the Iowa River. At Twin View Heights, a
development west of Solon, Terry Klein reports a PILEATED WOODPECKER at his
feeder and in the nearby woods last week. In Louisa County, 7 TUNDRA SWANS
and a ROSS'S GOOSE were sighted at Cone Marsh on the 7th. In Scott County, 6
HOODED MERGANSERS were in the backwater area at Credit Island Park in
Davenport on the 7th.
In the central in Story County, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was spotted on the 6th
flying along the edge of woods on the west side of I-35 between one and two
miles north of hiway 210. PINE SISKINS have been rare this winter, but three
were reported on the 2nd at the Y Camp north of Boone.
In the northeast in Linn County, at least one PEREGRINE FALCON has returned
to downtown Cedar Rapids, where it was seen on the 2nd on an upper story
window ledge on the south side of the Roosevelt Hotel. In Allamakee County,
two GOLDEN EAGLES, one adult and one immature, were observed on the 7th
soaring over the Upper Iowa River bluffs north of Waukon, along the Iverson
Bridge Road about five miles west of hiway 76.
Jim Fuller (319)338-3561
ioufuller@aol.com