[mou] MRVAC - Aitkin County Birding Trip - Field Trip Report - 5/15 - 17, 2005
EgretCMan@aol.com
EgretCMan@aol.com
Thu, 19 May 2005 01:06:52 EDT
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5/15 - 17, 2005
Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
Aitkin County Birding Trip
Field Trip Report
9 - Participants
122 - Species observed
Enjoyed my first chapter camping trip of the season. While temperatures
were a little on the chilly side, it remained dry and partly cloudy for most of
the trip. Except for a small period of time spent along the West shore of
lake Mille Lac's the entire trip was in Aitkin county.
Sunday, May 15 - We began the trip on Sunday evening at Rice Lake NWR and
heard at least 5 American Bitterns and observed 2. There were also many Sedge
and Marsh Wrens calling there as well. We ended the evening trying for
Yellow Rails behind the Fireside Restaurant. But did not hear any there between
9:30 and 11:20pm. We did hear one calling 7/10ths of a mile South of Hwy 210
on Hwy. 65. The bird was on the East side of the road out from the sign
marking mile #116. This bird was heard at 10:15pm, until 10:30pm and called the
entire time we were there.
Monday, May 16 - We began the day on Township Road #380, watching
Sharp-tailed Grouse, Black-billed Magpie and a number of Sparrow species. We were at
this location between 7:00 and 8:30am and the Grouse were active during the
entire time we were there. We next headed to the town of Palisade and
encountered a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Berglund County Park, along with a few other
migrants. Our next stop was along CR 18, about 2 miles West of CR 5, were we
encounter a nice mix of Warblers and several Blue Headed Vireo's. We checked
the Hill City Sewage ponds and found a dozen+ Common Goldeneye, but no
shorebirds. From there we headed over to the Washburn Lake Forest Road off of Hwy
200 and hit another nice wave of Warblers and woods birds. At the park in
Jacobson we encountered a male Red-bellied Woodpecker. We observed the bird
carrying nesting material and was actively calling during part of our visit.
We ended the day with another attempt to see the Yellow Rail we heard on
Sunday night, but were unable to because of high water in the Marsh. We heard
the bird from 10:10, until 11:20pm.
Tuesday, May 17 - We spent the first 4 hours of our day, birding the
wildlife drive at the Rice Lake NWR. The lake was pretty quite, but we did get to
see and hear many Savannah and Clay-colored Sparrows. There were also some
small waves of Warblers. From there we headed to Savannah Portage state park.
We observed many Cape May and Blackburnian Warblers in the Spruce Tree's in
the Campground. We ended our day checking out some spots on the West shore
of Lake Mille Lac's, where we observed a Ruddy Turnstone just South of the
Rock wall(Spot with the statue of the big Walleye) rest area.
Was fun to see and hear so many species of birds on there breeding grounds.
Here is a partial list of some of the birds we observed, all were in Aitkin
County. Unless otherwise mentioned:
Trumpeter Swan
Sharp-tailed Grouse - Township Road #380
American Bitter - Rice Lake NWR, main drive and Township Road #380.
Yellow Rail - Heard only along Hwy 65, 7/10ths of a mile South of Hwy. 210.
Ruddy Turnstone - Crow Wing County - Garrison, just South of the wayside,
with the Walleye
Statue.
Bonaparte's Gull - Mille Lac's County - On a Rock outcropping in Lake Mille
Lac's, across from the intersection of Hwy. 169 & CR 25.
Tern's along Lake Mille lakes - Common, Forester's and Caspian
Least Flycatcher
Black-billed Magpie - Township Road #380
17 Species of Warblers - Including Golden-winged, Cape May, Northern Parula,
Blackburnian and Pine Warblers.
Bobolink - numerous locations
Purple Finch - fun to hear singing in 3 or 4 locations
Craig Mandel - EgretCMan@aol.com - Minnetonka, MN
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<DIV>5/15 - 17, 2005</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter</DIV>
<DIV>Aitkin County Birding Trip</DIV>
<DIV>Field Trip Report</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>9 - Participants</DIV>
<DIV>122 - Species observed</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Enjoyed my first chapter camping trip of the season. While=20
temperatures were a little on the chilly side, it remained dry and part=
ly=20
cloudy for most of the trip. Except for a small period of time sp=
ent=20
along the West shore of lake Mille Lac's the entire trip was in Aitkin=20
county. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sunday, May 15 - We began the trip on Sunday evening at Rice Lake NWR a=
nd=20
heard at least 5 American Bitterns and observed 2. There were als=
o=20
many Sedge and Marsh Wrens calling there as well. We ended the evening=
=20
trying for Yellow Rails behind the Fireside Restaurant. But did not he=
ar=20
any there between 9:30 and 11:20pm. We did hear one calling 7/10t=
hs=20
of a mile South of Hwy 210 on Hwy. 65. The bird was on the East side o=
f=20
the road out from the sign marking mile #116. This bird was heard at=20
10:15pm, until 10:30pm and called the entire time we were=20
there. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Monday, May 16 - We began the day on Township Road #380, watching=20
Sharp-tailed Grouse, Black-billed Magpie and a number of Sparrow=20
species. We were at this location between 7:00 and 8:30am and=20
the Grouse were active during the entire time we were there. We n=
ext=20
headed to the town of Palisade and encountered a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at=20
Berglund County Park, along with a few other migrants. Our next stop w=
as=20
along CR 18, about 2 miles West of CR 5, were we encounter a nice mix of=20
Warblers and several Blue Headed Vireo's. We checked the Hill City Sew=
age=20
ponds and found a dozen+ Common Goldeneye, but no shorebirds. From the=
re=20
we headed over to the Washburn Lake Forest Road off of Hwy 200 and hit anoth=
er=20
nice wave of Warblers and woods birds. At the park in Jacobson we=20
encountered a male Red-bellied Woodpecker. We observed the bird=20
carrying nesting material and was actively calling during part of our=20
visit. We ended the day with another attempt to see the Yell=
ow=20
Rail we heard on Sunday night, but were unable to because of high=20
water in the Marsh. We heard the bird from 10:10, until=20
11:20pm. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Tuesday, May 17 - We spent the first 4 hours of our day, birding the=20
wildlife drive at the Rice Lake NWR. The lake was pretty quite, but we=
did=20
get to see and hear many Savannah and Clay-colored Sparrows. Ther=
e=20
were also some small waves of Warblers. From there we headed to=20
Savannah Portage state park. We observed many Cape May=20
and Blackburnian Warblers in the Spruce Tree's in the=20
Campground. We ended our day checking out some spots on the West=20
shore of Lake Mille Lac's, where we observed a Ruddy Turnstone jus=
t=20
South of the Rock wall(Spot with the statue of the big Walleye) rest area.</=
DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Was fun to see and hear so many species of birds on there breeding=20
grounds. Here is a partial list of some of the birds we observed, all=20=
were=20
in Aitkin County. Unless otherwise mentioned:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Trumpeter Swan</DIV>
<DIV>Sharp-tailed Grouse - Township Road #380 </DIV>
<DIV>American Bitter - Rice Lake NWR, main drive and Township Road #380.</DI=
V>
<DIV>Yellow Rail - Heard only along Hwy 65, 7/10ths of a mile South of Hwy.=20
210.</DIV>
<DIV>Ruddy Turnstone - Crow Wing County - Garrison, just South of the waysid=
e,=20
with the Walleye</DIV>
<DIV>  =
; &nb=
sp; Statue.</DIV>
<DIV>Bonaparte's Gull - Mille Lac's County - On a Rock outcropping in Lake M=
ille=20
Lac's, across from the intersection of Hwy. 169 & CR 25.</DIV>
<DIV>Tern's along Lake Mille lakes - Common, Forester's and Caspian</DIV>
<DIV>Least Flycatcher</DIV>
<DIV>Black-billed Magpie - Township Road #380</DIV>
<DIV>17 Species of Warblers - Including Golden-winged, Cape May, Northern=20
Parula, Blackburnian and Pine Warblers.</DIV>
<DIV>Bobolink - numerous locations</DIV>
<DIV>Purple Finch - fun to hear singing in 3 or 4 locations=20
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=3D0 face=3DArial size=3D2 PTSIZE=3D"10" FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF"=
>Craig Mandel=20
- EgretCMan@aol.com - Minnetonka, MN=20
</FONT></DIV></DIV></FONT></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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