[mou] Central MN Update, as migration wanes....

[Pastor Al Schirmacher]

101 (99 personal) species for the week in Sherburne, Mille Lacs and a bit of 
Benton Counties:

* Very few waterfowl, although nesting Trumpeter Swans in Sherburne Refuge 
are always a crowd pleaser (check both the back of Blue Hill and also the 
Prairie Wildlife Auto Tour)

* Ruffed Grouse drumming has declined, but not completely absent

* Few shorebirds, best sightings of week were two Uppies along the Auto Tour 
and a single Sanderling along the St. Francis River last Saturday

* Both Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos at Kunkel WMA, Mille Lacs 
County

* Red-headed Woodpecker, Sherburne CR 9 & 42 intersection

* Seven flycatchers, including a Willow on Kunkel WMA (if my ears are tuned 
correctly)

* Golden-crowned Kinglets still present on Blue Hill Trail, coniferous 
section

* Only 11 warblers heard/seen, residents except for the Hooded and last 
Saturday's Cerulean along Blue Hill Trail

* Nine sparrows, Lark seem to be everywhere in the refuge, Grasshopper very 
numerous

* Dickcissel returned to Mille Lacs CR 12 this morning (two, sadly signaling 
the end of migration)

* Best bird of week was Paul Johnson's White-faced Ibis on Saturday - have 
not seen or heard of further sightings.

Personal misses in the state this migration season:  Connecticut, 
Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers; Black Duck (for fourth year in row 
haven't seen in either home county); Golden Eagle; American Golden-Plover & 
Whimbrel; Yellow-bellied Flycatcher; Summer Tanager; Henslow's, LeConte's 
and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows; and the aforementioned Ibis - as well as 
some of the more rare & exotic.  What did you miss this spring?

Good birding to all!

Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
(feeling an Aitkin County trip coming on - LeConte's and Connecticut are 
going down!)