[mou] Shorebird update from Nicollet County

[rdunlap at gustavus.edu]

This morning Chad Gustafson and I checked out the condition of the  
shorebird area at the WMA one mile north of Hwy. 99 on the east side  
of Hwy. 111. The wet field from which I reported on Thursday is now  
mostly dry, and the number and variety of shorebirds there have  
significantly decreased. However, there is a second pond north of the  
first; to get there, continue walking on the dirt path as it curves  
northward around the first pond. There was a bigger variety and number  
at this pond, and there is considerably more water present which makes  
me think that this will be a good spot for at least a couple weeks.

At the shallow wetland on the east side of Hwy. 4 just north of the MN  
River in the western end of the county there was a decent variety of  
shorebirds present. Most interesting however was a juvenile  
Bonaparte's Gull sitting on the mudflats. There is a lot of water  
still present at this location, and thus I would expect this spot to  
be good for a while yet.

Additionally, at the Sleepy Eye sewage ponds in Brown County we found  
much of the same shorebirds including 7 Red-necked Phalaropes.

Bob Dunlap, Nicollet County
bobthebirdman.blogspot.com