[mou] N.Mockingbird refound/other weekend birds (lots)

[JELLISBIRD at aol.com]

    Went looking for the N. MOCKINGBIRD in Dakota and ran into the Martins. 
Struck out and went for a walk at the Archery Trail and went back to look a 
last time and the bird was there. It was near the first curve N of 42 first on 
the fence on the west side. It is skittish and moves with every vehicle that 
comes along. It went down near the spoils pile on the E. side of whatever that 
road is (between 42 and 140th) and ended up finally flying up onto the golf 
course in the oak savanna area. (6:45-7:00 PM-Sun.)
It was feeding in the short grass on both sides of the road.) It DID NOT sing.
    Friday had 5 AM. AVOCETS near Barry in Big Stone. Also an Upland 
Sandpiper in the same area. Saw a smattering of Am. Golden Plovers and a few BB 
Plovers. I had MARBLED GODWITS in Big Stone and a HUDSONIAN GODWIT with a Marbled 
Godwit in a water-filled pool in a farm field along the west edge of Pope County 
north of Cyrus on Friday evening. Both were gone when I went back that way on 
Saturday AM. Had 10 species in a small pond in Pope Cnty near the T of Pope 3 
with Pope 18.
    U of M Morris West Parking Lot has plantings and a small stream through 
it. All the shrubbery was chipped for wide open views of many Swainson's 
Thrushes compared with two Grey-Cheeked Thrushes, a Veery, 4 Ovenbirds and there was 
a N. Waterthrush in the stream and two Lincoln's Sparrows nearby. Grant 
County's Pelican Lake area STILL had only four CATTLE EGRETS. Lots of first of year 
birds for the weekend despite the rain and NASTY wind.

    John Ellis-St. Paul (Sunday Night)
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