Highlights from the Muleshoe National Wildlife refuge 2005 CBC

Greetings All:

A host of intrepid birders braved the cold and drizzly morn to list 70 species (plus 1 for CW) at the Muleshoe NWR CBC today. Highlights are listed below (broken down by team).

Team 1 (Anthony and Aveline Hewetson) contributed 1 Blue-winged Teal (Lower Paul's Lake), 3 female Common Goldeneyes (Upper Paul's Lake), 1 male Common Merganser (Lower Paul's Lake), 1 Long-billed Dowitcher (Lower Paul's Lake), 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Lower Paul's Lake), 1 Eastern Phoebe (Upper Paul's Lake), 2 Bushtits (Residential Area), 1 female Rusty Blackbird (Upper Paul's Lake), and 2 Great-tailed Grackles (Campground).

Team 2 (Brandon Best, Jim Crites, Phillip Kite) kicked in 5 Least Sandpipers (Goose Lake), 1 Say's Phoebe (Goose Lake), 1 Cactus Wren (Goose Lake), and 2 Chipping Sparrows (Goose Lake).

Team 3 (Rob Lee, David Knape, Harold Beierman) snagged 2 Eastern Phoebes (White Lake) and get official credit for the refuge Sandhill Crane count - 60,000 strong this year!

Team 4 (Jill Haukos, Marla Riddlespurger, Susan Tomlinson) racked 'em up with 1 Say's Phoebe, 1 CAROLINA WREN, 1 Green-tailed Towhee, and 2 Lark Sparrows - mostly from the campground area.

I am very thankful for the effort put forth on what proved to be a somewhat miserable morning (looked like everyone got wet to mid-thigh on damp brush and grass whilst beating the thickets) but a very interesting count; Anthony Hewetson, Lubbock

P.S. Both the Carolina Wren and the Great-tailed Grackles were new to the count list - though the grackles have been long-expected.