After doing my Birds ‘n’ Bogs survey (blog post Part 1), I drove the road along Potter Marsh and then walked the boardwalk there. In addition to Sandhill Cranes calling and flying into and out of the marsh, the usual spring birds were about.
Mew Gulls and Arctic Terns flew over the marsh usually calling loudly. Some were spread out across the marsh, probably staking out their territories.
Along the nearby water’s edge there were at least five Red-necked Phalaropes hunting for food, and sometimes interacting as shown in the video (this is all right next to the highway and the sounds of cars and motorcycles predominate).
Miscellaneous ducks dabbled or dove, including American Wigeons, Gadwalls, Northern Pintails, Ring-necked Ducks, Greater Scaup, Mallards, Northern Shovelers and Green-winged Teal.
A single dowitcher (presumably Long-billed?) probed the mud.
Four Red-necked Grebes swam about and gulped down little fish.
Two Trumpeter Swans swam slowly along, periodically upending themselves to feed.
From the boardwalk, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers, Lincoln’s Sparrows and Black-capped Chickadees could be heard singing and sometimes seen, but were not photographed. Tree Swallows flitted about. Those sitting along the boardwalk only moved when someone walking by them got very close.
There was at least one Greater and one Lesser Yellowlegs around and calling periodically. I believe my photo is of the Lesser:
Part 3 will be of birds found at Lakes Spenard and Hood.
Lynn Barber's Birding Blog 