[mou] MOU trip, Sherburne, Mille Lacs, Aitkin vacation; county record
Pastor Al Schirmacher
PastorAl@PrincetonFreeChurch.net
Sun, 21 May 2006 07:37:58 -0500
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Spent 3.5 days birding Sherburne, Mille Lacs & Aitkin Counties (160 =
species):
* Led the MOU Sherburne trip on Saturday - 19 participants, 101 species. =
Surprisingly only saw/heard 11 warblers, but also had 11 sparrows (nice =
looks at four Lark), seven shorebirds, numerous tanagers and a calling =
Bobolink (first in county during my 2.5 years here - despite having them =
in my backyard 15 miles north). Very good group assembled, primarily =
from the cities - enjoyed the time together immensely (including the now =
traditional K-Bob lunch).
* Nathan & I chased the Sherburne County record on Thursday (130 =
species). We were comforting ourselves after 8:00 PM (and 16 hours in =
the field) that 125 was indeed a good day, when we stumbled upon a =
good-sized group of shorebirds and terns on Bergeson Pool in good but =
fading light. Finished at 131 species (Jeff, do you need any =
documentation?), highlights included:
* Whip-poor-wills on Blue Hill Trail (4:45 AM)
* LeConte's Sparrow on 175th (well heard after spending previous day =
experiencing a number in Aitkin County)
* Western Kingbirds on CR 10 and Liberty Avenue (also had a Western =
Meadowlark on Liberty)
* Orchard Oriole on the Auto Tour
* American Bittern on Blue Hill Trail
* 14 warbler, 12 shorebird, 12 sparrow species (if one includes =
towhees).
Common misses were plentiful: RB Woodpecker, Green Heron, Wood Thrush, =
Purple Finch, Cooper's Hawk among others. Only had one owl (Great =
Horned at 9:00 AM).
* Traveled portions of Aitkin County Wednesday morning and afternoon =
(101 species), enjoyed a Yellow Rail, BB Magpie, LeConte's Sparrows and =
a very surprising Tufted Titmouse at Rice Lake NWR (believe Michelle =
reported that earlier this week, which I appreciated - since no computer =
was available until Sunday AM). Also birded portions of Mille Lacs =
County on Friday morning, little to report outside of a Thayer's Gull on =
the rocks at Wigwam Bay.
The 160 species included 21 warblers (but never any waves), 32 county =
birds, 29 year birds and one state bird (titmouse - since I tend to bird =
central and northern MN). Although Lac Qui Parle and other destinations =
beckoned, needed to keep this vacation low cost/low gas (walked numerous =
trails, but still put 800 miles on the aching blue van). =20
Good birding to all!
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Spent 3.5 days birding Sherburne, Mille =
Lacs &=20
Aitkin Counties (160 species):</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* Led the MOU Sherburne trip on =
Saturday - 19=20
participants, 101 species. Surprisingly only saw/heard 11 =
warblers, but=20
also had 11 sparrows (nice looks at four Lark), seven shorebirds, =
numerous=20
tanagers and a calling Bobolink (first in county during my 2.5 =
years here -=20
despite having them in my backyard 15 miles north). Very good =
group=20
assembled, primarily from the cities - enjoyed the time together =
immensely=20
(including the now traditional K-Bob lunch).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* Nathan & I chased the Sherburne =
County record=20
on Thursday (130 species). We were comforting ourselves after 8:00 =
PM (and=20
16 hours in the field) that 125 was indeed a good day, when we =
stumbled=20
upon a good-sized group of shorebirds and terns on Bergeson Pool in good =
but=20
fading light. Finished at 131 species (Jeff, do you need any=20
documentation?), highlights included:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* Whip-poor-wills on Blue Hill Trail =
(4:45=20
AM)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* LeConte's Sparrow on 175th (well =
heard after=20
spending previous day experiencing a number in Aitkin =
County)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* Western Kingbirds on CR 10 and =
Liberty Avenue=20
(also had a Western Meadowlark on Liberty)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* Orchard Oriole on the Auto =
Tour</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* American Bittern on Blue Hill =
Trail</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* 14 warbler, 12 shorebird, 12 sparrow =
species (if=20
one includes towhees).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Common misses were plentiful: RB =
Woodpecker,=20
Green Heron, Wood Thrush, Purple Finch, Cooper's Hawk among =
others. Only=20
had one owl (Great Horned at 9:00 AM).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>* Traveled portions of Aitkin County =
Wednesday=20
morning and afternoon (101 species), enjoyed a Yellow Rail, BB Magpie, =
LeConte's=20
Sparrows and a very surprising Tufted Titmouse at Rice Lake =
NWR (believe=20
Michelle reported that earlier this week, which I appreciated - since no =
computer was available until Sunday AM). Also birded portions of =
Mille=20
Lacs County on Friday morning, little to report outside of a Thayer's =
Gull on=20
the rocks at Wigwam Bay.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The 160 species included 21 warblers =
(but never any=20
waves), 32 county birds, 29 year birds and one state bird (titmouse - =
since I=20
tend to bird central and northern MN). Although Lac Qui Parle and =
other=20
destinations beckoned, needed to keep this vacation low cost/low gas =
(walked=20
numerous trails, but still put 800 miles on the aching blue van). =20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Good birding to all!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Al Schirmacher</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Princeton, MN</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Mille Lacs & Sherburne=20
Counties</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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