[mou] MRVAC - Meeker/Wright Counties Birding Day - Field Trip Report - December 4, 2006

[CRAIG MANDEL]

December 4, 2006

Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
Meeker/Wright Counties Birding Day Report

36 species observed

Led a hardy group of birders around Wright county today.  Temperatures were 
in the single digit range with winds out of the WNW at 10 to 15 mph.  But 
even with the harsh conditions we managed to have a very good day of 
birding, turning up some interesting species for the area.  Most of the lake 
were frozen, but we did find open water on Lake Pulaski, Ramsey Lake, Lake 
Mary and Cedar lake.  All those lakes except for Ramsey Lake had some 
waterfowl on them Including Trumpeter Swans.  A large number of Trumpeter 
Swans were also observed along the Mississippi river at Monticello.  Here 
are some of the species observed by the group and were they were observed.

Wright County observations:
Cackling Geese - Lake Pulaski - From a boat access on the SW shore, at least 
7 were observed in with a group of 500+
                                Canada Geese.
Trumpeter Swan
Black Duck - Montissippi County park - One bird was observed on the 
Mississippi river from the boat access in the park.
Canvasback - Single adult male Canvasbacks were observed on Lake Pulaski and 
Cedar Lake
Ring-necked Duck - Lake Pulaski
Greater Scaup - Lake Pulaski & Montissippi County park
Lesser Scaup - Lake Pulaski
Common Goldeneye - present on most of the lakes and observed in flocks along 
the Mississippi River
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Rough-legged Hawk - A single light morph bird was observed sitting on the 
power line along CR 9, near 30th St NW
American Kestrel - Hwy. 55 & CR 6
American Coot - Lake Pulaski
Thayer's Gull - 9:30am - A Single adult Thayer's Gull was first observed in 
flight by Ruth Hiland.  We observed the
                         bird for about five minutes at the park along 
Mississippi Drive.  This is the location were
                         the Trumpeter Swans are being feed. We observed the 
bird for about 5 minutes and then the bird
                         flew to the East and was not relocated in the 
remaining 1/2 hour we spent at that location.
Mourning Dove - Two birds were observed at the intersection of Hamlin Ave NW 
& 20 St NE
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Mary McGrath spotted a Red-breasted Nuthatch in the 
Pines on the North side of Montissippi Park
                        and we ended up observing 6 of them feeding at the 
tops of the Pine trees.
Dark-eyed Junco - a single Dark-eyed Junco was observed at the Ney Nature 
Center.

Craig Mandel, Minnetonka, MN
EgretCMan@msn.com