[mou] Weekend Visit to Minnesota - Results
Hopkins,Jeffrey A.
HOPKINJA@airproducts.com
Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:05:35 -0500
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MOU-netters:
While my search for gray partridge this weekend turned out to be a bust,
I still had a good time birding in my free time. Some results:
Friday, 3/25 - I started at the Empire Substation at about 11 AM.
Western meadowlark, one very noisy kestrel, and a few horned larks were
the only birds of note. No partridges. From there I headed to the NW
corner of Freborn County and drove any dirt road I could find. Horned
larks were everywhere. I also turned up a dark-phase rough-leg, one
northern shrike, a small flock (20-30) of lapland longspurs, and an
occasional killdeer. There was also a monster flock of red-winged
blackbirds and common grackles moving around. I looked for other
species in it, but couldn't find anything unusual.
Saturday 3/26 - Based on Kim Eckert's book, I thought I'd try McLeod
County. I went to the Nature Conservancy property he references, but no
partridge. I did flush what I'm pretty sure was a pipit along the south
edge of the property. I then spent an hour or so driving the dirt
roads, but didn't turn up anything but horned larks.
Sunday 3/27 - Back to Empire again. This time two meadowlarks, the same
kestrel, and just one or two horned larks. Also a killdeer or two, but
still no partridges. Went back into town via the Black Dog Power Plant
lakes. I saw several each of hooded and common mergs, and a pair of
bufflehead.
Monday 3/28 - How could I come out to Minnesota and not look for owls,
so I made a quick trip to Aitken County. I turned up 14 GGOs between
7:00 and 9:30. The first was on Rte. 65 just south of the intersection
with Rte. 18. There were 6 on CR 4, 1 on 340 St., 4 more on CR 5 south
of Rte. 210, one more on 65 at mile marker 113, and one one Rte 18 just
west of Rte. 65. Most were just perched apparently hunting. Not much
else seen or heard besides ravens, crows and blue jays. I did have a
swan fly over the road near the Aitken-Kanabec county line, but at that
distance in that light I had no idea as to species.
To all those who contacted me, thanks for the advice. If you're ever in
PA, feel free to give me a yell.
Jeff Hopkins
(Back in) Whitehall, PA
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<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">MOU-netters:</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">While my search for gray partridge this =
weekend turned out to be a bust, I still had a good time birding in my =
free time. Some results:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Friday, 3/25 - I started at the Empire =
Substation at about 11 AM. Western meadowlark, one very noisy =
kestrel, and a few horned larks were the only birds of note. No =
partridges. From there I headed to the NW corner of Freborn County =
and drove any dirt road I could find. Horned larks were =
everywhere. I also turned up a dark-phase rough-leg, one northern =
shrike, a small flock (20-30) of lapland longspurs, and an occasional =
killdeer. There was also a monster flock of red-winged blackbirds =
and common grackles moving around. I looked for other species in =
it, but couldn't find anything unusual.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Saturday 3/26 - Based on Kim Eckert's =
book, I thought I'd try McLeod County. I went to the Nature =
Conservancy property he references, but no partridge. I did flush =
what I'm pretty sure was a pipit along the south edge of the =
property. I then spent an hour or so driving the dirt roads, but =
didn't turn up anything but horned larks.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Sunday 3/27 - Back to Empire =
again. This time two meadowlarks, the same kestrel, and just one =
or two horned larks. Also a killdeer or two, but still no =
partridges. Went back into town via the Black Dog Power Plant =
lakes. I saw several each of hooded and common mergs, and a pair =
of bufflehead.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Monday 3/28 - How could I come out to =
Minnesota and not look for owls, so I made a quick trip to Aitken =
County. I turned up 14 GGOs between 7:00 and 9:30. The first =
was on Rte. 65 just south of the intersection with Rte. 18. There =
were 6 on CR 4, 1 on 340 St., 4 more on CR 5 south of Rte. 210, one more =
on 65 at mile marker 113, and one one Rte 18 just west of Rte. 65. =
Most were just perched apparently hunting. Not much else seen or =
heard besides ravens, crows and blue jays. I did have a swan fly =
over the road near the Aitken-Kanabec county line, but at that distance =
in that light I had no idea as to species.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">To all those who contacted me, thanks =
for the advice. If you're ever in PA, feel free to give me a =
yell.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Jeff Hopkins</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">(Back in) Whitehall, PA</FONT>
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