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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Larry Lade" data-source="post: 1971797" data-attributes="member: 2676">Saint Joseph Oxbows TodayBecause of the below freezing temperature this morning we did not band birds at the MWSU Campus.So I headed down to see what might be around the oxbow lakes south of Saint Joseph.  Beginning at Horseshoe Lake I found many KILLDEER and some "peeps"  which were to distant to ID. The ducks which I observed were: MALLARD,  GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, LESSER SCAUP and RUDDY DUCK.  There were no pelicans, but a lot of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. Two  HORNED GREBES were also seen. Several RING-BILLED GULLS were loafing,  feeding and generally flying between Horseshoe and Muskrat Lakes. The lone SNOW GOOSE was still on Muskrat Lake, but its partner Canada Goose was not to be seen. Large flocks of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE and GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE were around Muskrat Lake. Several AMERICAN COOT were at the southern end of the lake.I  made a short detour over to Jentell Brees CA which is on the Missouri River, a little south of the oxbows. I got an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW  (FOS) and subsequently got about nineteen more! Other birds in this  area included some nice looks at other birds flying around in the brush  and trees: DARK-EYED JUNCO, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, SONG SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD and NORTHERN CARDINAL. I heard RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and NORTHERN FLICKER.  I walked a little way into the woods and was startled by a flight of  wings, I thought I had stumbled upon a flock of woodcock, but alas, they  turned out to be some MOURNING DOVES  taking off from the ground! There is a little creek running up north  from this area (on the north side of the parking lot). I ventured along a  "path" (so called) and surprised a female BELTED KINGFISHER and a GREAT  BLUE HERON. Looking skyward upon leaving the area I noticed a circling  RED-TAILED HAWK.Going on over toward Lake  Contrary I came across three HARRIS'S SPARROWS. These were also FOS for me. A few AMERICAN CROWS later I added another FOS bird to my daily bird list. In among the numerous HORNED LARKS was a little smaller bird which turned out to be a LAPLAND LONGSPUR.A fun day to be out birding, with a clear sky, slight breeze out of the northwest and not much dust filling the air!</blockquote>

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