Singularly, or together, Tom and I often visit this slough; the Saganashkee. Four miles long, it is only about six feet at its deepest spot. There are several pull-offs from the boundary roads for cars and motorcycles to park, a boat launch for kayaks, and canoes On many half-way decent days, fishermen and women can be found on the shore. often young children in tow learning to fish.
Co-mingling along the Saganashkee’s shoreline, waterfowl, songbirds, and birds of prey seek shelter in the trees, take refuge among the cattails, and soar overhead looking for a meal – or dancing their mating waltzes. Geese, egrets, herons, hawks – even Sandhill cranes abound, along with their homo-sapien counterparts,who come equipped with cameras and binoculars . At the height of the migratory seasons, tripods and stilted legs are in equal fashion with long-legged Great Blue Herons. It is an area known by birds and birders alike.
I turned into one of the pull-offs and parked the car, an eye to the sky. My friend Phyllis identified a Bald Eagle in the area and I was hoping to catch a glimpse, which I did. The eagle was soaring in the distance; a magnificent sight to behold.
Cell phone in hand (it counts my steps), I walked a short distance, surprised by a gathering of dozens of birds I did not recognize. At first, it looked like a herd of black sheep. A few steps later, perhaps wild turkeys? Closer still, I could tell they were smaller in size than the common geese that were sharing their mid-afternoon snacks. Eventually, they sensed my presence. Long-legged and flat-footed, the scurried into the slough, a few fly-skipping.
Were they ducks? Swan? Black Swans have been passing through the area in the past several years, but, they seemed too small.
I asked my Facebook friends if anyone knew what they were, and they commented with some interesting choices. I must tell you, it was really great fun. Guinea fowl, mud hens, mergansers – and several other birds were suggested. I clicked on all sorts of birding sites, hoping to identify this flock.
I even dragged Tom to the area, not once, but, twice, and have returned as recently as two days ago, where these birds are still around. I believe they are migrating north and have stopped for a while to rest, eat, possibly convene for a bird convention. We estimated around 60 birds as they floated along the shore on Easter Sunday.
It was, in fact, on Easter Sunday that I was able to get close enough to capture enough features; beak, head, coloring, feet, flight. Coots!
I wonder if they will still be around today?
Have you met a new or interesting bird lately?
I would have loved to see that eagle!
I haven’t seen any birds I couldn’t identify lately. Just a lot of robins. They’ve taken over the trees near me!
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Majestic.
Around our house it is mostly robins, red-winged blackbirds, etc. We are fortunate to live 5/10 minutes from forest preserves, both north and south of us. I am always excited when I see something new – childlike? 🙂
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There are few birds here in Munich, Germany, just a lot of people from all of over the world.
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Gerlinde, people watching is just as thrilling. I hope you are having a good trip.
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You know these two old coots would love that slough! It’s great name rivals some of our Florida places for interest and spelling difficulty! Let’s see if I can do it without peeking: Saganatchee
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You are phonetically there, Sallie. 🙂 Most of the other sloughs have names like Joe’s Pond and Crawdad Slough. I should do some investigating to see how this one got its name. At any rate, I think you two coots would enjoy it as much as the two coots who live here on the Cutoff.
I need a new pair of binoculars.
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Of course you know that this slough would be a place these two old coots would enjoy! That is a real raft of those birds!
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Oh, goody. I love learning knew words. Raft. What a fitting names for a grouping of coots. 🙂 Thanks, Sallie.
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Penny, I’ve learned a new word from you: a slough. It’s not a word I know, other than as a verb. How wonderful to have such a place so full of birdlife, including mysterious passing visitors. Coincidentally, I too have been bird watching lately, in a spot by the inner harbour. I’m using binoculars and finding that they give a very intimate glimpse into the birds’ habits: heron, shags, oyster catchers, gulls and kingfisher so far, right here so close to the central city.
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. . . and I, Juliet, did not know slough as a verb. Thank you.
While we are in a very urban area, we are also very fortunate to live so close to nature. These sloughs host all sorts of water life, many of which you name (some which I will look up). We need new binoculars as you are right. They do give us an intimate glimpse into habitats.
These sloughs were carved out long ago by glaziers. The terrain is quite interesting. I’m having great fun discovering new birds (at least new for me).
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This has been quite an investigation and adventure all rolled into one, Penny! I love the search involved in attempting to identify an unfamiliar bird. I wonder more and more about how many species we will see outside of their traditional flight patterns. With habitat change as well as climate shifts it seems likely that the birds are going to be finding new places for their lay-overs! You have such interesting places to include in your nature walks, Penny. And to see an eagle? That would be some thrill! 🙂
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It’s a fun little diversion. 🙂 I love finding new things in nature and it was fun involving Facebook friends. I think we are already seeing changing flight/migratory patterns. Though, I didn’t get to see them, last year there was quite a congregation of black swans at this very same slough. This area is not their normal route. They are usually seen in the Dakotas. We really are lucky to be so close to so many preserved areas – and grateful for those whose vision preserved them. The eagle was pretty exciting. Have a good weekend, Debra. Snowing here. It won’t last.
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The coot took me to Wiki to learn more. I discovered they migrate to my southern state in Oct.. They can live 9 years but since they are legal game here I don’t know how many survive. Evidently they breed from April to July. There was so much that I found out about this gorgeous fowl! I never would have known about it unless you and Antler Man saw them. Thanks for teaching me something once again. Snow–Oh no! Spring snow can be wicked.
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I am so impressed by your investigation, Marilyn, and I love the idea that some of these coots may be coming from your state. How fun it is to think of this interconnection. I am wondering if the hunting of coots is used for food, or just sport?
The Antler Man, and I, are happy that our little fowling adventure led you on to one of your own – and you are very welcome.
The snow didn’t last, but, the wind has been a mighty force. Yesterday, I was sitting in a preserved estate, listing to a very talented woman do a historical portrayal of Mary Pickford. As I looked out of the leaded windows, the snow was blowing in enormous flakes as an espaliered magnolia, flat against a brick wall, were holding on hoping for tomorrow.
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I love the name of your slough, Penny, and it looks very like the wetland bird sanctuaries we have in some places in the UK. The word slough always reminds me of the Slough of Despond in Pilgrim’s Progress and it is also used quite a lot in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s descriptions of the prairie.
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It is a wonderful name – and oh, the Slough of Desond! 🙂 Yes, indeed, Laura Ingalls Wilder describes sloughs in her books. A large expanse of this midwestern states areas was carved out by the glaciers, which left their mark on the land and has provided much water, shelter, and food for birds, especially migratory birds. I never tire of exploring the area nearby.
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I’m lucky to even see a robin where I live! Lovely post.
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I wish I could send some of these birds your way, Nicola. Thank you so very much.
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When I first saw that top photo I DID think it was a herd of sheep! Do sheep come in herds? The most interesting bird I’ve seen lately is a bluejay in my back yard. Lovely and big and not something I often see around here. We also have a hawk hanging around, I hope it stays away from the bluejay!
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Shepherds watching over their “flock”. It should be a FLOCK of sheep. 🙂 I can’t believe I wrote that. Oh well . . . it looked like a flock of something. Blue jays are so beautiful, though they can be bullies. I’ll bet that hawk is keeping the mice population down. I’m hoping that once this cold snap ends we will see more birds, Janet.
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