the Way of the Turtle

Evening at Lock CS-1 & Montezuma NWR
Tuesday, July 19, 2011

On our way west we decided to make a side trip to Lock CS-1 and of course Montezuma, to see what we would see... our first surprise was a pair of minks or otters dashing across the route 20 just before we passed the main entrance to the refuge! No photos, unfortunately...

Not much happening at Lock CS-1, lots of swallows swooping around, fish splashing in the lake... and two adult eagles perched in the trees a short way down the lake shore. Must be a lot easier for them now that they don't have to feed their two youngsters.

Back at Montezuma, we were surprised to see water in the pool near the Visitors Center... when we were there Friday that area was dry. Lots of gulls out on the water, as well as a few small wading birds like sandpipers - I've got to get an ID on those, because we saw them on Friday and I watched several of them at the Crossings of Colonie park back in the spring. Two osprey on the nest near the river, and while we were there we saw what looked like another osprey fly off carrying nesting materials.

Along the wildlife drive we saw tons of herons, more waders, and lots of geese, including a group that had parked themselves in the middle of the road. We also spotted several deer coming down to the river to get a drink. The work in the marsh facing the Thruway is proceeding well... by next year there should be some nice new pools over that way.

May's Pool was very busy - herons, swalllows, ducks, a few swans, and what looked like egrets (seems a bit early for them, but what do I know?) We also had several large raptors fly by... one juvenile bald eagle who was starting to get his adult colors, and two young eagles still in the all brown stage, plus what were probably a couple of osprey. And herons. And more herons. And still more herons. In the water, flying over, even off in the trees in the distance. The rookery about ten miles away seems to be doing very well, if the number of herons we saw tonight is any indication.

JMH