Happy April, No Foolin' - 01 Apr 2025
Rain and storms are forecasted for the next several days, so I took the opportunity (and sunshine) to head down to Erie Marsh Preserve to get in a good mile+ walk. Temperatures hovered around 32F as I arrived just before 8 am. Red-winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows were making lots of noise at the entrance to the preserve. Pond 1 was open, but showed some ice formation in the shallows; no shorebirds were seen. I parked in the small lot and walked out past Pond 2 (open but empty) toward Pond 3. Setting up the scope I scanned the west shoreline and found dozens of Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, and Gadwall . I could hear the faint "Tu-Tu-Tu" of a Greater Yellowlegs and saw several flying off in the distance. As I walked past Pond 4 I spotted a bird nearby three very plump Dunlin still in basic plumage. I stayed on the main trail as it was beginning to thaw and there was at-least gravel to walk on. Pond B was quiet, but small flocks of Gadwall flu...
