[mou] MRVAC - Big Stone Lake State Park - July 23, 24, 25, 2006 - Trip Report

[CRAIG MANDEL]

July 23, 24, 25, 2006

Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
Big Stone Lake State Park
Field Trip Report
123 - species observed

Just returned from leading a trip to Big Stone and Lac Qui Parle Counties. 
We were successful in refinding the previously reported Snowy Plovers & the 
Clark's Grebe at Lake Thielke.  We also found at least five Least Bitterns 
at the Big Stone NWR, pool number 4.  But we missed on the Common Moorhen 
that had been previously reported from that location.  We found a few 
locations with shorebirds, but the best location was Big Stone NWR.  Here 
are some of the species that we were able to locate during the trip.

Eared Grebe - Salt Lake and Madison WMA, Lac Qui Parle County
Clark's Grebe - Thielke Lake, Big Stone county - We observed two adult 
Clark's Grebes, both with young and associating with Western Grebes.
American Bittern - Big Stone NWR, we observed two American Bitterns in the 
small pool on the North side of the driving tour, just south of the entrance 
to the auto tour.
Least Bittern - Big Stone NWR, East side of CR 15, near road signed for an 
old quarry.
Swainson's Hawk - Several were observed in Lac Qui Parle county.
Virginia Rail
Sora
16 species of Shorebirds, including one of the adult and two of the juvenile 
Snowy Plovers.
Eurasian Collared Doves, were observed Milan, Appleton and heard in 
Ortonville.  The birds in Milan were observed on the Grain elevator and the 
birds in Appleton were seen and heard on Hwy 7, across the street from the 
Cenex gas station.
Loggerhead Shrike - a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes were observed along the 
North side of Hwy. 7, 3/10's of a mile east of Hwy. 75.
Henslow's Sparrow -Several birds were heard and we also had a distant look 
at one.  This was at the Plover Prairie, in Lac Qui Parle county 2 miles 
East of hwy. 75.

Craig Mandel, Minnetonka, MN
EgretCMan@msn.com