[mou] Seasonal Confusion at the Refuge

[Pastor Al Schirmacher]

Winter today in the coniferous section of Blue Hill Trail:

* White-winged Crossbill (seen & heard)

* Pine Siskins (flyover calls followed by ziiiiiip)

* Golden-crowned Kinglet (not as unusual, seen & heard 11 out of 12 months 
there over last five years)

* Red-breasted Nuthatches (not unusual at all, but added to the winter 
feel).


While summer was present on the rest of the trail:

* Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers, Eastern Towhees, Grasshopper 
Sparrows and other normal residents.


95 species in Sherburne & Mille Lacs area this week (did not include visit 
to lake area), including a juvenile Peregrine that Nathan photographed along 
CR 5 in Mille Lacs County last night - perhaps a Monticello power plant 
wanderer?

Good birding to all!

Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties