[mou] Caspian Terns/Grant Co.

[Dan & Sandy Thimgan]

Late this morning (Saturday, 9/16), we saw 11 Caspian Terns (including at
least two in juvenile plumage with lighter colored bills begging food from
adults) at the Ashby treatment ponds in northeast Grant County.  The adults
seemed to still be in mostly full breeding plumage.  They were in the
company of many Forster's Terns which were all in basic/non-breeding
plumage.

The ponds are located just south of the town of Ashby along Hwy 78.  The
ponds are gated and locked, but by driving up to and then standing at the
gate, you can see across to the far side of one of the ponds where the birds
were seen loafing/preening/begging on the embankment.  A scope is helpful
but not required.

There were a few large rafts of American Coot starting to gather on nearby
Lake Christina (about 5 miles north of Ashby), as well as a few Western
Grebes.

Bird on!
-- 
Dan & Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN