October Bird Walk

October at GMI is all about Waterfowl, Sparrows and Blackbirds; Rusty Blackbirds that is. The Great Marsh hosts wintering populations of this rapidly declining species and October is when they typically move in. Flocks of several dozen are not uncommon here this time of year. Waterfowl are also on the move. In the past we have had: Cackling Goose, Blue and Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, American Black Duck, and Pied-billed Grebe. Sparrows will be moving in as well including chances of seeing: Fox, White-crowned, Vesper, Savannah, and Lincoln’s. Other species of note seen in October include: Golden Eagle, Northern Harrier, Blue-headed Vireo, Common Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter and Marsh Wren, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, and Eastern Meadowlark. In all, 101 species have been recording in October.