[mou] Felton Prairie Trip

[Steve and Sherry Watson]

This last weekend my dad and I took a trip out to western Minnesota in
hopes of improving my state list and reaching my goal of getting 300
birds before I turn 16.  We left Friday afternoon stopping in Sax Zim.
We were able to find and get amazing views of an adult Great Grey Owl
along Mcdavit's (I'm not sure how to spell it) road.  For several
minutes we watched the bird along with someone we got to meet from
Massachusetts who was also in search of a great grey owl.  It became my
first life bird and success of the trip.  From there we headed down
highway 210 towards McGregor arriving sometime around mid night.  We
heard several, maybe half a dozen or more yellow rails which became
another life bird.  My dad and I trudged around awhile in hopes of
sighting one but only succeeded in seeing a silhouette flush from the
marsh to vanish in the darkness.  We also hoped in hearing some nelson's
sharp-tailed sparrow but after trying then and early again in the
morning and even on the way home today and last night we did not hear
any but did hear lots of sedge and marsh wrens, and LeCont'es sparrows.
>From there we got up early Saturday morning heading for Felton Prairie
hoping to see and hear the rock wrens their and another surprise.  Back
at the great grey owl sight while talking with Paul (the guy, forget the
last name) he told us he'd just come from their and had not been aware
of the wrens but was meandering around and heard a Baird's sparrow off
108 just past the farm house at the wildlife viewing area.  He had said
he heard it right at the break of dawn and tried again the next day
later but didn't hear it.  We looked without success as well and came up
with the theory that it may be their but only sings extremely early, or
it moved to another sight around the area.  From there we went to the
rock wren location.  We looked around a bit and then succeeded in seeing
the pair fly in.  One flew by disappearing and I focused on the other
which flew in alighting briefly on rock pile #6006 with an insect in its
mouth, it then darted over to rock pile #6002 and we lost it for a time.
It then came out when we approached the rock pile but it acted
suspiciously creeping over the rocks as if we were near its nest.  I
believe they have a nest their and somewhere in the pile numbered 6002
by the way it acted when we were close and with it bringing food their
and disappearing in the rocks and returning without it.  For a long time
we observed it as it bopped around at a range of 5-10 feet in front of
us.  We then caught lost it again and later heard it singing.  For
another little while we watched it sing briefly upon both rock piles and
mostly on the sand banks around.  It was a great experience and a lot of
fun.  I added those three birds which brings me to 295 and hopefully 298
if the Ross's geese that I saw in mid June, the summer tanager at Murphy
Hanrehan, and the painted bunting in Lyon County get accepted which I
have a good feeling.  Other good birds on our trip include:

Common Loon - Felton
Least Bittern - Heard one at Hamden Slew in Becker County
Gadwall - Hamden Slew, also saw one with chicks near their
American Wigeon - Hamden Slew
N. Goshawk - Saw one along 210 a little way's past McGregor
G. Prairie-Chicken - Saw one at Felton
Virginia Rail - Heard one at Hamden Slew
Sora - Heard one at Hamden Slew
Upland Sandpiper - saw a few at Felton, even one with 2 or 3 babies
Marbled Godwit - a few at Felton
Wilson's Phalarope - Saw one male at Felton, on a small island in that
large pond 				near the where the
chestnut-collared longspurs are seen

Black-billed Cuckoo - Heard and saw one at McGregor
Western Kingbird - Saw one at Felton
Yellow-throated Vireo - Heard and saw one well at Rice Lake Wildlife
Management 					Area
 Winter Wren - One at Rice Lake
Wood Thrush - Heard and Saw one at Rice Lake
Golden-winged Warbler - One at Rice Lake
N. Waterthrush - One at Rice Lake
Several of the usual sparrows at Felton, Clay-colored, Grasshopper,
Vesper, Savannah, Song, and a few others.
Chestnut-collared Longspur - Several at Felton
Bobolink - Huge numbers most places we were
Both Orioles - Orchard at Felton, Baltimore near Hamden

That's a few, the trip yielded near 130 species and Saturday came down
with 110.  It was a great fun trip, especially the rock wrens... What an
experience!

Good Birding to all

Josh Watson
Grand Marais

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