[mou] Clay County - 7/8 - 10, 2007

[CRAIG MANDEL]

July 8 - 10, 2007

Enjoyed the last three days, leading a trip to Clay county for the Minnesota
River Valley Audubon Chapter.  The group observed 102 species of birds in
Clay county and we added a few more species in Becker county for a total of
111 species for the trip.  Most of the birds we observed were still singing
and many were observed carrying food, or feeding young.  In addition to
seeing a lot of wonderful birds, the Prairie's have a large variety of
wildflowers in bloom.  Which just added to the enjoyment for the group.
Here were some of the birds we observed:

Clay County
Greater Prairie Chicken - 7/9 - 8:30 pm - MN, Highway 9, 120th Ave N - A
single bird was observed in flight, just South of 12th Av N - 7/10 - 7:30
am - 28th Ave N - 3 birds were observed sitting in the field next to the
fence line on the North side of 28th Ave N, 3/4 of a mile East of MN Highway
9.
American Bittern - 7/9 - 7:00 pm - MN Highway 32, just South of 73rd Ave N
Shorebirds - 10 species - observed at a number of locations.  Most of the
birds were observed in flooded portions of fields.
Loggerhead Shrike - 7/10 - 8:45 am - 12 Ave S, 3/4 of a mile West of CR 23.
Le Conte's Sparrow - CR 113, 27, 33, Buffalo River state park, across from
the entrance station and several other locations in the Eastern half of the
county.

We tried several times unsuccessfully for the previously posted Nelson's
Sharp-tailed Sparrow.

Becker County
Hamden Slough NWR - pool near the visitor center
Trumpeter Swan
Short-billed Dowitcher
Franklin's Gull

Craig Mandel, Minnetonka, MN
EgretCMan at msn.com