[mou] MRVAC - Sibley County Birding Day - Field Trip Report - 10/19/04

EgretCMan@aol.com EgretCMan@aol.com
Wed, 20 Oct 2004 01:04:14 EDT


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October 19, 2004

Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
Sibley County Birding Day
Field Trip Report

4 - Participants
65 - species observed

The weather was cool and we encountered light snow in the afternoon, but 
migration was in full swing.  Large numbers of Sparrows were observed and American 
Robins were also observed in large numbers throughout the county.  
Ring-billed, Franklin's and several dozen Bonaparte's Gulls were observed, mainly at the 
Gaylord Sewage Ponds.  The most interested spot found during the afternoon, 
was a small wet area in a field.  The field is located about 1/4 mile West of 
Sand Lake on the North side of the road.  Sand Lake is located along Hyw. 15 
about 3 miles South of the town of Winthrop.  We arrived at the area at 3:00pm 
and watched as birds would land, take a bath and move out.  We observed several 
small flocks of Lapland Longspurs, 1 Smith's Longspur, American Pipit's and 
the following shorebirds.  White-rumped Sandpiper, Dunlin, Dowitcher species 
and Wilson's Snipe.  We also observed a pair of female Dickcissel's, mixed in 
with a flock of Sparrow's along Hyw. 19, 2 miles West of the town of Winthrop.  
Here were some of the species observed by the group.

7 species of ducks, with only small numbers observed including Northern 
Pintail, Green-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler's.
@ Ring-necked Pheasant - Male observed displaying while sitting on a power 
line wire.
@ Pileated Woodpecker
@ Ruby-crowned Kinglet
@ Eastern Bluebird
@ American Pipit
12 species of Sparrows & Allies - with Fox, Lincoln's, Swamp, Harris's and 
Smith's Longspur being some of the species observed
@ Dickcissel
@ Rusty Blackbird - Very large flocks of Blackbirds were observed near 
Washington Lake.
@ Brewer's Blackbird
@ Brown-headed Cowbird
@ Purple Finch


Craig Mandel - EgretCMan@aol.com - Minnetonka, MN 

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<DIV>October 19, 2004</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter</DIV>
<DIV>Sibley County Birding Day</DIV>
<DIV>Field Trip Report</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>4 - Participants</DIV>
<DIV>65 - species observed</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The weather was cool and we encountered light snow in the afternoon, bu=
t migration was in full swing.&nbsp; Large numbers of Sparrows were observed=
 and American Robins were also observed in&nbsp;large numbers throughout the=
 county.&nbsp; Ring-billed, Franklin's and several dozen Bonaparte's Gulls w=
ere observed, mainly at the Gaylord Sewage Ponds.&nbsp; The most interested=20=
spot found during the afternoon, was a small wet area in a field.&nbsp; The=20=
field is located about&nbsp;1/4 mile West of Sand Lake on the North side of=20=
the road.&nbsp; Sand Lake is located along Hyw. 15 about 3 miles South of th=
e town of Winthrop.&nbsp; We arrived at the area at 3:00pm and watched as bi=
rds would land, take a bath and move out.&nbsp; We observed several small fl=
ocks of Lapland Longspurs, 1 Smith's Longspur, American Pipit's and the foll=
owing shorebirds.&nbsp;&nbsp;White-rumped Sandpiper, Dunlin, Dowitcher speci=
es and&nbsp;Wilson's Snipe.&nbsp; We also observed a pair of&nbsp;female Dic=
kcissel's, mixed in with a flock of Sparrow's along Hyw. 19, 2 miles West of=
 the town of Winthrop.&nbsp; Here were some of the species observed by the g=
roup.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>7 species of ducks, with only small numbers observed including Northern=
 Pintail, Green-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler's.</DIV>
<DIV>@ Ring-necked Pheasant - Male observed displaying while sitting on a po=
wer line wire.</DIV>
<DIV>@ Pileated Woodpecker</DIV>
<DIV>@ Ruby-crowned Kinglet</DIV>
<DIV>@ Eastern Bluebird</DIV>
<DIV>@ American Pipit</DIV>
<DIV>12 species of Sparrows &amp; Allies - with Fox, Lincoln's, Swamp, Harri=
s's and Smith's Longspur being some of the species observed</DIV>
<DIV>@ Dickcissel</DIV>
<DIV>@ Rusty Blackbird - Very large flocks of Blackbirds were observed near=20=
Washington Lake.</DIV>
<DIV>@ Brewer's Blackbird</DIV>
<DIV>@ Brown-headed Cowbird</DIV>
<DIV>@ Purple Finch</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=3D0 face=3DArial size=3D2 PTSIZE=3D"10" FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF"=
>Craig Mandel - EgretCMan@aol.com - Minnetonka, MN </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTM=
L>

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