[mou] Midweek in Midstate

[Pastor Al Schirmacher]

Although things have slowed down a bit in northern Sherburne & southern 
Mille Lacs counties this midweek (Monday through Wednesday), have a few to 
report:

* Whip-poor-wills (two seen at 8:40 AM this morning flying from tree to tree 
along the eagle nest road side of Sherburne NWR's Prairie Wildlife auto 
tour).  They have also been singing on Blue Hill Trail and at Ann Lake/Sand 
Dunes campground.

* Henslow's Sparrow (first right hand corner on the auto tour - third 
"hearing" since 5/1)

* Red-headed Woodpecker along Sherburne CR 9 yesterday (surprisingly, first 
of season)

* Eleven sparrows total in area, including Larks on Mahnomen Trail (not 
singing, but still quite visibly flying about; twelve if you include 
towhees)

* Philadelphia Vireo (first of season at Pioneer Park Monday).

* Only ten warbler species, eight resident and two migrant.  I would concur 
with the observation that this has been a slower warbler migration, very few 
waves to speak of - many of my sightings/hearings have been of 1-3 birds. 
Currently at 23 species, 26-27 consistently migrate through here (missing 
Bay-breasted, Mourning & Canada, as well as the southern rarities as a 
whole - remember the Hooded last year and Chat in 2004 on Blue Hill Trail).

* Only seven shorebird species, 80+ Dunlins on the auto tour this morning 
(Bergeson Pool, scoping at 60X), couple of W. Phalaropes on CR2 ponds. 
Would love to see a few of the larger shorebirds move through (Willet, Stilt 
et al).

Good birding to all!

Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties