[mou] Rothsay SEOwls & Others, Upper MN Valley Waterfowl (LONG)

[JELLISBIRD@aol.com]

        Saturday PM, March 18
  There was too much snow to service my Wood Duck houses so went birding. 
Rothsay on Friday (4-7 PM) was productive. Saw Short Eared Owls at two locations; 
one near the farmstead just south of where Wilkin 176 reaches its eastern end 
near the traditional lek, and five on either side of Wilkin 165 (270th Ave) 
in the grassy fields just south of Wilkin 30 (150th St.) I also saw a Great 
Horned and a Barred Owl in the evening. There were upwards of 75-85 Rough Legged 
Hawks in the area (that was only North of Wilkin 26.) At one location I 
scanned the compass and came up with 35 Rough Legs either in trees, fenceposts or 
flying. There were RLegs on the ground, on snow mounds, as many as 6 in one tree 
at a time. I also saw 11 N. Harriers, 3F and 8M. One Bald Eagle, one 
Red-Tailed Hawk and two Kestrals rounded out the Raptors. Western Meadowlarks were 
singing on Saturday AM.
    Went down to the Upper MN Valley on Sat. AM.  Lac Qui Parle County (below 
the HGH 75 dam-spillway is open) had the following: 350 White-Fronted Geese, 
a couple thousands of Canada Geese and many Cackling Canadas, many duck 
species (no BW Teal, no Buffleheads). Saw a MERLIN flying low over some fields, 
north to south. There were 25 AM. WHITE PELICANS soaring between the dam and 
Lewisberg as were thousands of waterfowl going out to feed. 
    Swift County (at the MN 119 bridge) also had GWFGeese, Cackling Canadas 
and also 10-11 Trumpeter Geese. One lone RUDDY DUCK was asleep (but present.) 
The MN 40 bridge also had GWF Geese, a few waterfowl, and Canadas but no 
Cackling Geese.
    The Chippewa 32 overlook at the head of Lac Qui Parle Lake had thousands 
of Canadas, some Cackling Canadas and waterfowl. 
    I saw NO WHITE GEESE the whole trip. 

        John Ellis- St. Paul