Audubon Trip to Bee Hunter Marsh

Bee Hunter Marsh

a Least Bittern fleeing the scene

Semi-palmated Plover

Saturday morning, I joined the Sassafras Audubon Society (Bloomington) for a field trip to Bee Hunter Marsh in Greene County. It was excellent weather and birding. I was very happy to see five new birds to add to my life list, plus several I have never seen in Indiana.

Lifers:
Least Bittern - several excellent looks. Maybe saw 5-6 birds.
King Rail - several individuals came out on the mud flats for good looks. At one point in the morning, I had to chose between looking at a King Rail on one side of the causeway and a Least Bittern on the other. I went with Least Bittern, because I had all ready seen the King earlier.
Common Moorhen - Several indivuals, plus one calling.
Sedge Wren - There were many of these guys calling, we got to see a couple, usually perched up in some Big Blue Stem. Supposedly there were Marsh Wrens there, too, today, but I couldn't zero in on them.
Blue Grosbeak - I got to see three individuals and to hear one sing. I had always worried about distinguishing these guys from Indigo Buntings, but they really didn't look alike. BG's are so much bigger, with massive beaks, and even a different color blue.

IN Lifers:
Little Blue Heron - There were many all white juvs. It was fun to learn to distinguish them from the dozens of Great Egrets. There were also several mottled juvs and two dark adults.
Black-necked Stilt

Very Cool Birds:
Great Egrets
Green Herons
Black-crowned Night Heron
Bald Eagle
Bobwhites
Semi-palmated Plover - a very cute plover
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Bank and Cliff Swallows
Dickcissels