I spent a couple of hours on the main side of Huntley Meadows this morning
beginning around 7:45. A Barred Owl was keeping guard over the entrance road
and even obliged me with a couple of close range photographs. There was still a
fair amount of waterfowl, with Green-winged Teal being the most numerous.
Highlight was a pair of Blue-winged Teal in the main impoundment. 5 Wilson’s
Snipe flushed from the boardwalk loop area.
The most impressive sighting was non-avian. 2 River Otters were present at the
beginning of the boardwalk area. One even posed for a few head up shots for me.
Ed Eder waited patiently and got to see one catch a fish, sit on a log, and eat
it. He showed me several pics of same.
Although actual work on the wetland restoration is set to begin in mid-April,
workers were present and chain saws were clearing the way for the extension of
the hike-bike trail so that equipment can get to the dam-breast area. Be
prepared for what will likely be a disrupted spring migration in certain areas
of the park if you regularly bird there.
Dave Boltz
