Des Moines Area Field Trip (12/8/05) Highlights

At the Marina large numbers of Surf Scoters milled around north of the pier. Among them could be found White-winged Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye, Horned and Red-necked Grebe. 

A Winter Wren adorned a rock near the creek, calling in full view. A single Yellow-rumped Warbler called nearby. On the way to the beach, a possible Merlin was sighted as it flew past. Zenith overlook provided great looks at several velvety Black Scoters courting one female while giving their mellow but plaintive call. Western Grebe, Common Loon and Pigeon Guillemot were also sighted. 

Two Bald Eagles graced a conifer tree, while Golden-crowned Sparrows responded to pishing and an Anna's Hummingbird perched briefly for all to see. A single Pelagic Cormorant sat on a buoy off of Saltwater State Park while Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead and American Wigeon swam nearby. 

Songbirds such as Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker were found in the park's woods.  There was a brief sighting of a Townsend's Warbler as it flew across the parking lot. Unfortunately, it did not re-appear. There were 4 birders and 46 species sighted.