Field Trip Report: Swan Lake NSA - 9/16/22

Field Trip Leader: Jeff Bleam
The weather went from hot to cool with a forecast for snow above 8000' within the next couple of days. There was a small storm a couple of days before the walk and there were new areas with just enough water to create muddy areas and push the shorebirds farther out from the shoreline. However, we did find LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, STILTS, AVOCETS, and many KILLDEER. There were both SHORT-BILLED and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS as well as LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. We also saw COOPERS, RED-SHOULDER HAWKS, PEREGRINE FALCON and KESTRELS. Highlights were a short visit from COMMON and FORSTER'S TERNS and on the way back we found, with some help, SANDERLING. I stopped by the wetland area at Lear Road and found YELLOW, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, BLACK PHOEBE, 2 COOT, a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and a YELLOWTHROAT. Not a bad day with 48 species.

eBird List