Day 188, Monday Oct. 8, 2018, --Many birds at Montezuma NWR near Seneca Falls, NY

SENECA FALLS NY. That should ring a bell with history buffs, or especially with women who promote women's rights. Yes,  it was the home of the Women's movement waaaaay back before women had the right to vote. Some great names and memorials in that Women's Hall of Fame there.  The National Women's Hall of Fame is an American institution created in 1969 by a group of people in Seneca Falls, New York, the location of the 1848 women's rights convention.

Sign on the street near the Building.

But, that was anther story. We drove to the Montezuma NWR, a few miles from Seneca Falls. As we drove in the main entrance, a huge pond, (that had been plowed for access for many sources of food) that was quite filled with Canadian Geese, and many other species of shorebirds and waterfowl. I'll name them later.  We studied that pond for fully 45 minutes trying to separate the species. and we did sort them out.

Moving to the parking lot and entering the Visitor's Center the ranger "Jackie" was on the deck that overlooked the rest of the pool (I'll call it that although there was as much earth as water. ** See explanation below)) with a telescope and she was pointing out a number of birds for visitors.  We got our binoculars going and soon discovered some species that were-quite surprising as we had never been in on a fall migration and seen the birds going south. We were excited.
After some minutes we checked in at the visitors desk and headed down the three mile loop that surrounds that pools on the Refuge.
 

The pool by the Visitor's Center where the birds gather for food

A close up of the Visitor Center pool.

This called the "Main Pool" and the drive is mainly around it.

This Refuge, like many but maybe more so, is a coordinated effort between the Fish and Wildlife Service, (Feds), the NY State Dept, of Wildlife conservation, Ducks Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy, private landowners, and special interest groups.  By mid November the waterfowl numbers will peak with 50,000 Geese, and 100,000 ducks.
 In managing the refuge  the pools Are kept at about one and one half feet deep. This can fluctuate but the idea is to have it yield 1/3 water, 1/3 emergent plants (cattails), and one third submerged aquatics (bladderwort). This provides the proper balance for the wildlife and organisms. The birds can rest, nest, feed, and rear their young here.

Usually Snow Geese are long gone by now. This one could be hurt.

I show this for when they come down to land one of them will break formation and dive. The rest follow. (C. Geese)

This Great Blue Heron was feeding all during our lunch .

We struggled with identifying this Common Gallinue as it was between adolescent and adult in plumage.

Geese landing is  fun to watch as the wings come out and the feet drop.

But, today it was the shorebirds that we were interested in as well as the SNOW GEESE that were still in the NWR. As we drove along we saw these especially; KILLDEER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, GREEN  and
 BLUE WINGED TEAL, BALD EAGLE, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, WOOD DUCK, SHORT BILLED DOWITCHER, PIED BILLED GREBE, COOT, AMERICAN WIDGEON, SWAMP SPARROW, COMMON GALLINUE, GADWALL, BLACK DUCK, RED BELLIED WOODPECKER, WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER, GREAT EGRET, HERRING GULL, BLACK BELLIED PLOVER and RED TAILED HAWK.  There were  a few other we often see. There were 37 bird species in all.

A few flowers are left and the trees are getting their color.

Looks like Hibiscus?...No///Mallow!

Lake Cayuga at Seneca Falls NY

A good flower and deadhead mixture  At Montezuma NWR

A Bald Eagle sculpture te Montezuma NWR. Large pool is behind.

Downtown of Naplolean's downfall. Waterloo NY.

IT was a great day and we ended by driving home by the American Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls on Beautiful Cayuga Lake, one of the great Finger Lakes of New York State. Tomorrow we will redo this, but see the Falls  and the Women's Hall of Fame.