[mou] Central MN - Sherburne NWR, Mille Lacs Lake, Benton County + rumps

[Pastor Al Schirmacher]

101 species seen/heard in central MN over the week (won't see those kind of 
numbers again until the spring!):

* Black-bellied Plover, Sherburne CR 3 & 23 intersection (larger farmer's 
pond)
* American Golden Plover (probable, seen briefly & heard), Benton CR 25 
(between Foley & MN 95); seven shorebird species total for week
* 12 warblers (but diminished to Yellow-rumped only by end of week); four 
vireos (again diminished by end of week)
* 10 waterfowl (slowly increasing numbers), nine Trumpeter Swans
* 10 sparrow species including possible Henslow's
* AW Pelicans all over the refuge (flocks of 30+); Winter Wrens actively 
moving through
* Blackbirds massing (counted 615 Red-wingeds in four flocks on the Auto 
Tour without really trying).

Learned that I haven't mastered the art of large owl rump identification, 
missed 2-3 flyaways this week in the early morning light.

Duluth boat trip & Wisconsin Point WSO trip tomorrow - may the weather not 
turn dramatically worse!  Ah, jaegers, gulls, phalaropes, pipits....

Good birding to all!

Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties