[mou] Interesting birds in WC MN
Wildchough@aol.com
Wildchough@aol.com
Fri, 17 Jun 2005 23:25:33 EDT
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Ran BBS routes in WC MN all week. A few of the highlites:
Black-crowned Night Heron--moderate numbers at Lake Hansel heronry, Swift
County north of Benson.
Snow Goose-one along Route 28 west of Elberta last night--not visible today.
Seemed healthy.
Bald Eagle nest (1 young) and hummingbird nest within 50 yards of each other
in a Morris backyard. Quite a contrast. Bald Eagle with 3 young at Big Stone
NWR.
Gray Partridge--single individuals or pairs seen in Kandiyohi, Stevens,
Swift, and Traverse Counties. Watched one cock walk right by a pheasant cock with
no apparent interaction. One dead on road west of Elberta. Heard one calling
for first time, barely audible from 40 yards, like a high-pitched softly
whimpering puppy.
Loggerhead Shrike--one south of the entrance road to Glacial Lakes State
Park, Pope County.
Brewer's Blackbirds--several colonies found in both native prairie and
alfalfa fields in Traverse and SW Stearns County. What's the southern breeding
limits of this species in Minnesota?
Some general notes: thousands of temporary waters throughout WC counties but
no late migrant shorebirds noted despite 10,000 White-rumps still at Cheyenne
Bottoms, KS earlier in week. Thousands of unplanted fields too may provide
good fall birding opportunities. Brown Thrashers definitely increased since
bottoming out last couple of years and Sedge Wrens seem widespread and in good
densities. Red-headed Woodpeckers still very scarce, seem limited to old
"claimbelts" and a few shelterbelts and riparian areas. Willow Flycatchers
widespread and common in Pope and Swift Counties. Dickcissels spotty but on the move
with late first cutting of hay this week. Bobolinks doing well on grasslands
and alfalfa fields. Meadowlarks appear to have increased but still way down
in heavily agricultural areas from what most of us remember. Basically the
grassland birds are doing well where there's plenty of habitat and absent where
the corporate farms dominate the horizon. Bob Russell, Dakota County
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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=3D2 PTSIZE=3D10 FAMILY=
=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0">Ran BBS routes in WC MN all week.&n=
bsp; A few of the highlites:<BR>
<BR>
Black-crowned Night Heron--moderate numbers at Lake Hansel heronry, Swift Co=
unty north of Benson.<BR>
<BR>
Snow Goose-one along Route 28 west of Elberta last night--not visible today.=
Seemed healthy.<BR>
<BR>
Bald Eagle nest (1 young) and hummingbird nest within 50 yards of each other=
in a Morris backyard. Quite a contrast. Bald Eagle with 3 young=
at Big Stone NWR. <BR>
<BR>
Gray Partridge--single individuals or pairs seen in Kandiyohi, Stevens, Swif=
t, and Traverse Counties. Watched one cock walk right by a pheasant co=
ck with no apparent interaction. One dead on road west of Elberta.&nbs=
p; Heard one calling for first time, barely audible from 40 yards, like a hi=
gh-pitched softly whimpering puppy.<BR>
<BR>
Loggerhead Shrike--one south of the entrance road to Glacial Lakes State Par=
k, Pope County.<BR>
<BR>
Brewer's Blackbirds--several colonies found in both native prairie and alfal=
fa fields in Traverse and SW Stearns County. What's the southern breed=
ing limits of this species in Minnesota?<BR>
<BR>
Some general notes: thousands of temporary waters throughout WC counti=
es but no late migrant shorebirds noted despite 10,000 White-rumps still at=20=
Cheyenne Bottoms, KS earlier in week. Thousands of unplanted fields to=
o may provide good fall birding opportunities. Brown Thrashers definit=
ely increased since bottoming out last couple of years and Sedge Wrens seem=20=
widespread and in good densities. Red-headed Woodpeckers still very sc=
arce, seem limited to old "claimbelts" and a few shelterbelts and riparian a=
reas. Willow Flycatchers widespread and common in Pope and Swift Count=
ies. Dickcissels spotty but on the move with late first cutting of hay=
this week. Bobolinks doing well on grasslands and alfalfa fields.&nbs=
p; Meadowlarks appear to have increased but still way down in heavily agricu=
ltural areas from what most of us remember. Basically the grassland bi=
rds are doing well where there's plenty of habitat and absent where the corp=
orate farms dominate the horizon. Bob Russell, Dakota County<BR>
<BR>
</FONT></HTML>
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