Went to viewing area for cranes staging for migration in Big Marsh Lake. Saw expected hundreds-thousands of sandhill cranes gathering.
Looked for ducks from the overlook north of the main viewing area. Saw many Canada geese, and dabbling ducks from a great distance. Ducks mostly went unidentified but some seen were clearly mallards, and others were clearly green-winged teals based on size. Possibly some wood ducks, but unclear.
From main viewing area, saw two pairs of swans: toward back orange-billed, clearly mute swans; toward front were black-billed swans. I and others believed these were trumpeter swans, which had been seen there in recent days. Merlin Sound ID repeatedly claimed to hear tundra swans, though I did not notice these swans making any noise; I think Sound ID got confused by all the crane calls in the area. I was not able to see the swans’ faces clearly enough to confidently tell for myself which they were.
Near sunset, heard “tWHEE, tWHEE” calls of an eastern towhee. Found a male in the bushes along the front trail headed north from the foot of the viewing hillside.
Also present throughout bushes near viewing area were many white-throated sparrows, some of them singing.