Sandhill Crane, Northern Harrier, Pied-billed Grebe and American Goldfinch at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

On 2 Aug 24 Mrs T and I left Manchester and headed east for a three-night stay in Boston. However, before we travelled too far, we turned off the I-90 to visit the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. The visitor centre wasn’t open on our arrival but from the veranda I added Tree Martin, Purple Martin (nesting in the nestboxes nearby), Green Heron and a distant Northern Harrier to the trip list. I also encountered another two Cedar Waxwing that flew across the car park after I took the photograph of the wildlife drive entrance.

 

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge wildlife drive entrance – 2 Aug 24

Highlights included numerous Osprey (four in one dead tree alone), Wood Duck (pair and immatures), Pied-billed Grebe and what I believe were Lesser Yellowlegs (rather than Greater) and Killdeer. A small sandpiper (probably Semipalmated) was also spotted amongst the waders, but it disappeared before I was able to capture a record image. We also finally connected with American Goldfinch with first one, and then another two males, seen feeding adjacent to the track on seedheads. A very impressive bird and another species I had expected to see in Central Park.

Killdeer, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – 2 Aug 24

(Presumed) Lesser Yellowlegs, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – 2 Aug 24

Great Blue Heron and Great White Egret, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – 2 Aug 24

A total of 22 species were seen that included an additional 4 ‘lifers’ (bold text) as follows:

• American Crow
• American Goldfinch (male; 2 males)
• American Herring Gull
• Canada Goose
• Cedar Waxwing (2 – Visitor Centre car park)
• Common Gallinule
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Great Blue Heron
• Great White Egret (1 – Three Sisters Islands)
• Green Heron (2)
• Killdeer (3)
• Lesser Yellowlegs (3)
• Mallard
• Northern Harrier (2)
• Osprey
• Pied-billed Grebe (2)
• Purple Martin (several adjacent Visitor Centre)
• Ring-billed Gull
• Sandhill Crane (5 in flight)
• Song Sparrow
• Tree Martin (scores)
• Wood Duck     

Pied-billed Grebe, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – 2 Aug 24

Wood Duck (immature), Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – 2 Aug 24

Northern Harrier, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – 2 Aug 24

Sculpture

The ‘champagne moment’ though was shortly after we had actually left the reserve to rejoin the I-90. Shortly after we had turned right from the exit of the reserve five Sandhill Cranes flew low over the trees towards us. I expected Sandhill Crane to be the last ‘lifer’ of the trip but I had the good fortune to subsequently encounter another on Boston Common.

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)