Date: 5/27/25 4:47 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - May 27
It was overcast, mostly calm, and mild on the bird survey today. 67 species were found. The only migrants seen today were Black Terns, Alder Flycatcher, and a flock of about 30 Red-winged Blackbirds. Saw the first brood of the year: A pair of Common Gallinules with 7 tiny chicks. Also saw an Anhinga's nest with young in it; and the frequency of Neotropic Cormorants flying to and from their nesting colony suggests they are feeding young. Saw several Common Gallinules sitting on nests, one Purple Gallinule's nest, and a Pied-billed Grebe sitting on a nest. Several hundred Cattle Egrets have moved into the heronry on Otter Lake now and appear to be nesting along side the already present Anhingas and Green Herons. Here is my list for today:
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - 11
Canada Geese - 2 (with 2 young.)
Wood Duck - 6
Ring-necked Duck - 3 males
Hooded Merganser - 1
Pied-billed Grebe – 9
Neotropic Cormorant - 15 (at least 7 nests with birds on them.)
Anhinga - 89
Least Bittern - 1
Great-blue Heron - 3
Great Egret - 10
Snowy Egret - 15
Little-blue Heron - 141
Cattle Egret - 940
Green Heron - 23
Black-crowned Night Heron - 1
Yellow-crowned Night Heron - 1
White Ibis - 314
Black Vulture - 4
Turkey Vulture – 15
Mississippi Kite - 1
King Rail - 1
Purple Gallinule - 210 (New high count on adults!)
