Spring is Coming to Bennington Lake

 

The most noticeable spring arrival was a western meadowlark serenading us with his beautiful song from the top of a pine tree.  A few mallards were back on the lake with the usual common mergansers, four ring-billed gulls circled the lake and came down for a look, two killdeer were along the shore, a hairy woodpecker was busy cleaning out a hole in a tall snag, a turkey vulture flew overhead and a female northern harrier was harassing a young red-tailed hawk that must have been in her territory.  A few early shrubs were beginning to show some green and the willow branches are all turning color.  There may be snow a few miles away, but the lake is beginning to look like spring.          Ginger

 

Winter Raptor Field Trip

Nineteen enthusiastic birders went out looking for wintering raptors on February 12.  The weather was balmy and a little breezy, but we saw some very nice birds.  Watching two golden eagles soaring above the fields near Clyde was certainly a highlight.  Later another golden eagle was seen being harassed by several common ravens.  At least a dozen long-eared owls were seen in one spot, and a lone bird was found sitting in a deserted tree (not where you would expect to see a long-eared owl).  We also saw 3 great horned owls and one barn owl.  We watched a beautiful prairie falcon in flight and then were able to get great views with our scopes of it sitting in a tree.  Rounding out the raptors seen for the day were 44 red-tailed hawks, 23 American kestrels, and 4 northern harriers.  It was a fun day of birding and I want to thank everyone for helping to spot some wonderful birds.   Ginger

Coyotes at Bennington

It was cold and sunny for our Tuesday walk today.  The lake was mostly frozen, but 20 common mergansers found a little open water to swim in.  The little birds were generally quiet when we started our walk, but the black-capped chickadees began to sing by the time we were on the lower trail heading back to the parking lot.  No owls today, but we didn't spend much time searching for them.  A downy woodpecker and a hairy woodpecker were busy getting food right in front of us along the west side trail, giving us a great chance to see the differences in the two species.  However, the most exciting sight of the day was watching two yipping coyotes in the fields.  They were quite vocal and we could hear them for some time.  There were also four unconcerned deer in the same vicinity.  Another fun outing for all of us.  Ginger