At 7:00 a.m. 28 January 2006, twenty-seven eager birders assembled at the West Union bridge over Sugar Creek in west-central Parke Co. But as has been the pattern all winter, the Bald Eagles were more than 15 minutes late! At 7:35 a.m. the first three birds soared overhead to the Wabash River and by 8:10 a.m. a total of FORTY-TWO had been counted, including thirty-five immatures, five adults, and two unknown. The abnormally large percentage of immatures to adults continued a pattern starting in November of 2005. Next stop was the Wabash River bridge at Lodi where two Bald Eagles and three Great Blue Herons were studied before a late breakfast at the Cayuga Burger King. The "pit-pond" behind Burger King presented great views of American Goldeneyes and Lesser Scaup prior to heading down Hwy 63 to the back side of the Cayuga Power Plant. There an adult eagle was sitting on the nest as expected with its mate nearby. Alas the wintering immature Golden Eagle failed to appear as hoped but we did pick up a Sharp-shinned Hawk and Golden-crowned Kinglets. On to the Newport river bottoms which were very productive with at least five adult and eight immature eagles in view. One Hooded Merganser and two Common Mergansers flew over the river, and added entertainment was provided by one adult eagle which broke off a branch about 3 ft. long and tried to keep it from another adult chasing it through the air and the trees across the river. For the day almost sixty eagle sightings of at least fifty different birds. and it was still early!

About half of the group wanted more! So we headed down Hwy 63 to the Universal mine area west of Clinton. At the Illinois/Indiana line we found the wintering Snow and White-fronted Geese in the long pit pond, while many Canada Geese fed in the fields and a pair of Trumpeter Swans flew by us. Viewing conditions were not perfect and prevented us from picking out the Ross's Geese. So we decided to drive further north and west to search for the Trumpeter Swans. It wasn't much of a search as the flock was found resting near the road in the same field they had been found every day this winter. An estimated total of 114 swans were counted including at least four Tundra Swans. We then headed into the mine area again and stopped at the south end of the big pit pond. Coots, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser, and hundreds of Mallards were identified at the distant north end. We birded south and eastward through the mine property picking up Ring-necked Ducks, a pair of Canvasbacks, Rough-legged Hawk, Ring-necked Pheasant and six more Trumpeter Swans. Large numbers of Canada Geese in the upland grassy fields were closely scrutinized and finally yielded at least three Cackling Geese and two more cooperative pheasants. A quick drive into the cemetary too quickly flushed a Great Horned Owl missed by most participants. By the time we reached the south end of the mine area we had found quite a few Northern Harriers and most of the group were ready to call it a day.

However a few birders were not yet done. A drive back through the mine area gave us a clean sweep on swans as two adult Mute Swans were found. After this we had to try for a clean sweep on the geese also, but the Snows had left the pit pond. So we again headed northwest and luckily found the Snows and many White-fronted Geese in the same field as the Trumpeter Swans. It wasn't long before four Ross's Geese were picked out of the flock. In addition thousands of Mallards and many Northern Pintails were scattered over the field. What a sight! All in all not a bad day. Nice weather, great company, 50+ Bald Eagles, all three swan species including c. 120 Trumpeter Swans, all five goose species including 2000+ Canadas, 200+ Gr. White-fronteds, and 200+ Snows, and an impressive mix of swans, geese, and ducks standing together in one field to end the day.

Alan W. Bruner