[mou] FW: Carlos Avery WMA Field Trip Report, St. Paul Audubon Sat., May 26

[Clay Christensen]

Note forwarded message about trip to Carlos Avery WMA.
-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- 
From: "Holly Peirson" <hpbirdscouter at msn.com> 
To: "Christensen, Clay & Jean" <clay.christensen at comcast.net>, "Davies, Chase" <ccdavies at aol.com>, "Sellers, Julian" <juliansellers at msn.com> 
Subject: Carlos Avery WMA Field Trip Report, St. Paul Audubon Sat., May 26 
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 21:39:43 +0000 

Two days at Carlos Avery this week, one to scout and one to help lead a field trip there. For the 2 days: 71 species.
 
Best birds: Sandhill Cranes, Hooded Merganser mom and brood, American Bittern calling and sighted, Virginia and Sora Rails heard, Black Terns, Great Horned Owl and baby, Sedge and Marsh Wren in direct song comparison, cooperative looks at several Veeries, 8 species of nesting warblers.
 
Also, great companionship both days, with people coming through on a search for ibis sp. and W. Kingbird (not found) on Friday, and field trip attendees (about 25 of us) on Saturday.
 
Friday a group formed while driving into the WMA. We stopped for calling warblers, wrens, flycatchers, and a heard Black-billed Cuckoo before arriving at the “ibis” site. While at Pool 4, we had many Sandhill Cranes as fly-overs and feeding in the water and prescribed burn area behind it. We had calling Virginia Rails on both sides of the road almost at once, followed and serenaded by a Sora. Friday we saw Bank Swallows as well as Tree and Barn. Saturday we missed the Bank, but found their sandbank where they may be nesting, on the north side of Pool 4. 
 
Saturday the group had a great time listening to Least Flycatchers, Eastern Phoebe, and Eastern Wood-Pewee, as well as several warbler species, Great-crested Flycatcher, B. Oriole, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Bluebirds, on a short hike on a forest path before going out to the pools. 
 
At Pool 10 we had the comparison of Sedge and Marsh Wren, Orioles, Swamp and Song Sparrows, Black Terns, a Kingfisher, several Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons, and Crane flyovers.
 
West of Pool 4 there is a burned over section, where after the burn a few years ago, many trees have fallen in subsequent winds. This is a good area for “edge” species. We had great looks at singing Veery, Red-eyed Vireo (without neck-craning!), Golden-winged Warbler, Redstart, Yellow Warbler, C. Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 2 No. Harriers, and Bald Eagle. 
 
Friday on the way out, I took the road S. from Twin Lakes area to Hwy 18 and heard a singing Pine Warbler. 
 
Saturday the wind was too high to hear such niceties as far-away bitterns and rails, but we had a great time and missed the rain until we were safe in our cars on the way back to the carpool location!
 
Thanks to all for a great time!
 
Holly Peirson
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