[mou] Spotted Sandpiper, Dodge Co.

[connyb]

Today Leslie Marcus and I headed out to Dodge County to bird, and one of our first stops was the Claremont Sewage Ponds.  There was a large variety of ducks, our favorites the 25+ Male Rudy's sporting that beautiful blue bill.  While we were watching the ducks we heard the familiar call of the Spotted Sandpiper, and there it was bobbing away on the bank looking splendid!  Over the ponds were Barn, and Tree Swallows, and a Purple Martin.  There were 3 Wilson's Snipe in the muddy ag field, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and an assortment of regular species.

We then went up to the Gravel Pits on Co 1, and CRG where the Eurasian Collared-Dove had been reported, and did not refind it.  We had great luck in the gravel pit ponds, and gravel roads there.  In a farmers pond, and woodlots we saw many more species of ducks, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Br. Creeper, Swamp Sp, Chipping Sp, White-throated Sp, Field Sp, Hermit Thrush, and Brown Thrasher.  Flying overhead we had Great Blue Heron, Osprey, and Turkey Vulture.

On our way back in on Steele Co 19 just west of Rice Lake State Park on the North side of the road near a creek that had a large mudflat we saw 10 Wilson's Snipe, lots of both Yellowlegs, and Pectoral Sandpipers.  In the deeper water was a variety of ducks, and more of the same sparrows, and Pheasants.  

Conny Brunell
Richfield, Hennepin Cty
connyb@mycidco.com