Water of Life

Back in March a few years ago, the Presa was completely dried up, bar the stagnant river running down to the dam (http://hileybirding.blogspot.mx/2011/03/presa-centenario-dried-up.html).  This happened largely as a result of the management (CONAGUA) draining all of the water from the reservoir.  The results were disastrous - thousands of wintering wildfowl had to prematurely leave the Presa at an important stage.   

Despite a lot of draining this year, a decent amount of water remains in the Presa and it is thankfully still home to both a lot of wildfowl as they feed up ahead of their northward migration, and to migrating waders passing through and using it as a 'staging post'..

Today, Northern Shovelers were feeding like crazy...

Northern Shoveler 'shoal feeding'

Also present were Mexican Ducks, Blue-winged Teals, Green-winged Teals and Ruddy Ducks.  Also on the water were many Eared Grebes and 1 Least Grebe. The biggest attraction, though, was the migrant waders feeding around the exposed edges of the reservoir. 

I encountered 11 species - Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, 4 Western Sandpipers, 6 Stilt Sandpipers, 12 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 American Avocets, 2 Black-necked Stilts, 25 Wilson's Phalaropes, 18 Long-billed Dowitchers, many Killdeers, and 1 Snowy Plover..

Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpiper

Killdeer

Snowy Plover

Long-billed Dowitcher

Lesser Yellowlegs

 Save the best for last, though..As I was watching the waders, they suddenly took off.  Eyes to the skies and I saw a beautiful hovering Osprey.  This cracking raptor is making the journey north to its breeding grounds.  Part of me was sad, though.  The Osprey hovered over the water, obviously expecting or hoping to spot some decent sized fish to eat to give him energy for the onward trip.

Unfortunately, he was never likely to find anything in this dirty reservoir.  He moved on pretty promptly..

Osprey