Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Bell's Landing at Banner Marsh


Silo at Banner Marsh. Scott and I looked for the Orchard Oriole that the Goodners reported seeing last week at Bell's Landing, the southern access area at Banner Marsh. We walked down the grass covered road leading away from the parking lot by the boat ramp towards the levee on the south side of the marsh. This levee must run between the marsh and Copperas Creek.

We did not find the Orchard Oriole, but we did find Eastern Bluebirds, a Yellow-breasted Chat, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and at least 8 Baltimore Orioles. The Baltimores seemed to be every where in the trees on the far side of the levee. I'm sure the Orchard Oriole was hiding in there, but we didn't see it.

We drove to where the road leads up to the main dike and waked down to the cement silo to get another look at the nesting Osprey. On our way back, a Great Horned Owl swooped down out of the silo flying past us while attended close behind by many purple martins and swallows. He flew into the woods between the dike and the river. We also passed a tree with many holes and a couple of little Tree Swallow heads kept popping out of the lowest hole.

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