Eight lucky birders went along on a morning field trip to the B & M Wildlife area and
then to the Tres Rios Wetlands, looking specifically for rails and bitterns. The weather was predicted to be very windy, but the wind held off until late morning, so we had a beautiful four hour outing. Starting at the B & M Wildlife Area we heard, but never saw, a calling Clapper Rail. He was right at our feet in very dense cattails. At the same time an extremely cooperative Sora was seen by all on the opposite side of the trail. Farther along under the Avondale Road Bridge we spotted a Barn Owl just peeking over one of the bridge supports. A few feet beyond we encountered a Great Horned Owl and then found a second Great Horned Owl on a nest.

After a brief second attempt to see the Clapper Rail, with much carrying on from the rail, but again no visible sighting, we decided to go to the Tres Rios Wetlands to look for Least Bitterns. We heard, but again did not see, two Least Bitterns in heavy cover on the  eastern pond at Tres Rios, most likely territorial birds getting ready to nest. Another Sora was seen by one or two of the group at this location also.

A total of 45 species were seen and/or heard between the two locations including: Piedbilled Grebe, Double-crested and Neotropical Cormorant, Greater and Snowy Egret, Great-blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Least Bittern (heard only), Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, Gambel’s Quail (heard only), American Coot, Common Moorhen, Clapper Rail (heard only), Sora (seen well), Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Barn Owl, Great-horned Owl, Anna’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Gila Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Cliff Swallow, Verdin, Marsh Wren, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler (lots!), Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellow-throat, Yellow Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Abert’s Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird and Great-tailed Grackle.

Birders in attendance included: Rich Schooler (leader), Carol Schooler, Donna Smith,
Dominic Sherony, Barb Meding, Carol Hammon, Dave Bixler and Phyllis Murray.