After not being able to do it last weekend, I made my way out to volunteer on the trails at Reifel this afternoon. There were a few more people than in recent weeks and some interesting birds to boot. Just inside the entrance a Sora had been showing well around the warming hut area. As luck would have it, it was not present when I went to check.
The Barn Swallow nest on the side of the warming hut was entertaining several folks.
These chicks will not be in the nest much longer. From here I carried on to the outer ponds. Some of the usual shore birds present were Yellowlegs, Dowitchers, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper. Highlights were,
… a couple of Red-necked Phalarope,
… around fifteen Stilt Sandpipers,
… and about a half dozen Wilson’s Phalarope. An honourable mention goes to the Virginia Rail that made a quick flight from one patch of bullrush to another between the shore birds. Not wanting to give up on the Sora, I made my way back to the warming hut area. Some birds splashing away taking a bath caught my attention and on closer examination the Sora was one of them.
It then made its way back and forth along the waters edge.
Or should I say muddy edge. Not the best back drop for photos, but fun to see and spend some time with this infrequent visitor to the sanctuary.