Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

Five Allen Club members chose to ignore the weather forecasts of thunderstorms and heavy rain predicted for the morning.  As we were grouping up, so was a huge flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.  We started out along the Bark Haul Trail hearing Warbling Vireos and Carolina Wrens.  Several Gray Catbirds and a House Wren added some chatter.  Wood Ducks and Mallards, and a Flicker were spotted by the ponds near the RR tracks.  Soon after hearing thunder, one of our group wisely turned back, and before leaving Stebbins, checked the north pond on Pondside Road to add American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal.  Meanwhile we continued on, but turned back at the T, after watching a Common Yellowthroat try to evade us.  The sprinkles turned to heavy rain.  By the time we returned to Pondside, no one wanted to subject their optics to the rain, and we called it a morning, with a total of 21 species.