Snowy Egret @ Erie Marsh - 23 Jul 2026
Skies were clear this morning and it was actually a bit chilly! Temperatures would hit mid-70's this afternoon under gorgeous conditions so I decided to take a ride to Erie Marsh Preserve to look for a Snowy Egret and Long-billed Dowitcher that was reported by Linda Ar and Vikki Jones earlier this morning. I arrived at 1 pm and walked the main dike to Pond 2 and scoped the shorebirds. A pair of Black-necked Stilts were foraging and protecting another 2 hatchlings / juveniles that were nearby. A couple dozen Semipalmated Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers were scattered among another dozen Killdeer and singles of Pectoral Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitcher . Overhead an Osprey was circling prior to diving and fishing. My scope setup from yesterday (Swarovski STX 85 and Mountain Backpack) was again in operation, but when I removed the scope from the backpack it had come loose (despite a compression washer). So I decided to go back to mounting the scope TO the backpack after tight...
