[mou] shorebirds

[Peder Svingen]

Good numbers of shorebirds can still be found in western Minnesota.
Surveys this past weekend found 20 species, including a White-rumped
Sandpiper in Toqua Township, Big Stone County. The first juvenile
Long-billed Dowitchers of the year showed up, and a few juvenile
Short-billeds are still lingering, providing some interesting comparisons.
So far this year, more than 35,000 peeps have been scrutinized during
systematic shorebird surveys in western Minnesota, but not a single
Western Sandpiper has been found.
Recent rains have raised water levels at several formerly good sites in
Big Stone County and at Mud Lake, Traverse County. However, Salt Lake in
Lac Qui Parle County still has hundreds of shorebirds and no fewer than
1215 shorebirds were counted at the Yellow Medicine County site located 2
miles north and 2 miles east of St. Leo. At the St. Leo site on the 18th:
Killdeer		9
Greater Yellowlegs	9
Lesser Yellowlegs	238
Sanderling		1
Semipalmated Sandpiper	154
Least Sandpiper		291
Bairds Sandpiper	9
Pectoral Sandpiper	279
Stilt Sandpiper		202
Short-billed Dowitcher	1 juvenile
Long-billed Dowitcher	19 (mostly adults)
Wilsons Phalarope	2
Red-necked Phalarope	1

-- 
Peder H. Svingen - psvingen@d.umn.edu - Duluth, MN