Joe Soehnel

Canada Goose   3192
Cackling Goose  6
Trumpeter Swan   14
Tundra Swan        1158
Wood Duck   7
American Wigeon  235
American Black Duck 117
Mallard  4268
Northern Shoveler  86
Northern Pintail  226
Green-winged Teal  585 
Bufflehead  26
Ring-necked Duck  12  
Common Goldeneye  2
Common Merganser  506
Red-breasted Merganser  12  
Hooded Merganser  37
Ruddy Duck  26
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Rough-legged Hawk 3
Northern Harrier  9  
Bald Eagle   7
American Coot  264   
Sandhill Crane   652
Greater Yellowlegs  1
Short-eared Owl  13
Great Horned Owl  1
American Pipit  21
Dark-eyed Junco  26
Common Grackle  8
Red-winged Blackbird  22
Rusty Blackbird  4
American Tree Sparrow  73

Shiawassee NWR IWMMP Survey Highlights along with non-waterbird sightings.  The highlight of the day (well, there were many) was an incredible group of twelve Short-eared Owls in the roughly mile square "farm unit".  I could see eight at one time after seeing two in the Bremer Unit, and then two on the west end of the section.  The last and thirteenth was found in the Prairie field at the Bishop Rd platform at the west end of Curtis Rd.  I'm convinced this sizable number was due to heavy snow to the north and a drastic cool down with the temps, creating a 'perfect storm' for a major influx.  Four of them were buzzing me at one time, apparently perturbed with my presence.  I managed to get a video of one of them shown below of less than stellar quality.