[mou] FW: Wilson's Phalarope at 180th St. Marsh, Dakota County

[Laura Coble]

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From: Laura Coble [mailto:shearwater45 at frontiernet.net] 
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:13 PM
To: 'mnbird at lists.mnbird.net'
Subject: Wilson's Phalarope at 180th St. Marsh, Dakota County


At 4:30 pm today, just as I was leaving 180th St. Marsh, I found two female
Wilson's Phalaropes in breeding plumage. They were on the north side of
180th St., on the east edge of the west pond, close to the road, in the
water around a small clump of marsh grass. I've seen very few shorebirds
(just Greater Yellowlegs) this spring, and the phalaropes were a beautiful,
more than welcome sight! They were very close to the road, alternately
grooming and feeding, turning in circles once in a while. They didn't flush,
even when a truck sped by, so I was able to view them for some time. They
were still there when I left.
 
180th Marsh is between Fischer Ave. and Dakota County 85. The gravel road of
180th St.east of hwy 52 was in bad condition several days ago, due to recent
rain, so it may be easier to access the marsh by driving less than a mile
west from highway 85 and 180th St, northeast of Vermillion, MN. 
 
There have been large flocks of a wide variety of waterfowl (including a few
Horned and Pied-billed Grebes) at the marsh during the past month, as
reported by several birders on the listserv. Today the large flocks were
gone--just A. Coots, several Green and Blue-winged Teal, and N. Shovelers. I
also checked Lake Byllesby in late afternoon, as well, and did not see any
shorebirds--just 60-70 White Pelicans, gulls, C.Geese, and A. Coots. The
water in  Lake Byllesby is higher than it was last week, with some mud flat
still there.
 
Laura Coble
Cannon Falls, MN
 
 
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