Trip report: Plains Lakes

The weather was great for our trip last weekend, but disappointingly the waterfowl were largely absent from the lakes. Ducks and gulls were moving through in good numbers earlier in the week, but the lakes were relatively empty on Saturday. But migration and the nesting season are ramping up--we were treated to views of Great Horned Owls on nests and recently returned Red-winged Blackbirds and Western Meadowlarks.

More migrants will be passing through in the next several weeks, and waterfowl migration is far from over.

In total we detected 33 species. Below are links to our eBird checklists and the species list for the day.

Blake's Pond
Meeboer Lake
Gelatt Lake
Twin Buttes Reservoir
Lake Hattie Reservoir
Hutton Lake NWR

Species List - 21 March 2015

Canada Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruddy Duck American White Pelican Golden Eagle Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Coot Killdeer

Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Horned Owl Common Raven Horned Lark Mountain Bluebird American Robin European Starling Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark House Sparrow

Photos by Libby Megna.