[mou] MRVAC - Isanti County Birding Day - Field Trip Report - 3/10/2008 - Craig Mandel

[CRAIG MANDEL]

March 10, 2008

Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
Isanti County Birding Day
Field Trip Report

Our group started the day with an unsuccessful try for Owls at the Sand 
Dunes State Forest.  From there we headed over to the subdivision, just 
North of Lake Ann.  We found some of the common feeder birds there and also 
most of the group had some nice looks at an adult Northern Goshawk.  There 
may have also been a Merlin in the area.  Our next stop was along the St. 
Francis River, along Sherburne County Road 1.  Here we found the 
Red-shouldered Hawk and Great Blue Heron, that have been previously reported 
from the area just South of Elk Lake.  Next we headed over to Princeton and 
had some very nice looks at the previously reported Varied Thrush, just 
North of town.  Then we continued into Isanti County.  We ended up finding 
20 species of birds in the county, with the Barred Owl and Northern Shrike 
along CR 56, just West of CR 12 being the highlights for the group.  Here 
are some of the details on some of the species we observed today.

Great Blue Heron - Sherburne county - 9:30am - Observed in flight over the 
St. Francis River, along the West side of CR 1, just South of the 
intersection of CR 1 and CR 87.

Northern Goshawk - Sherburne County - 8:30 am - Observed in several 
locations in the housing subdivision, just North of Lake Ann.  The bird was 
first observed at the intersection of 254th Ave E and 155 th St.  It was 
then observed in flight several times along 165th St.

Red-shouldered Hawk - Our group observed three Red-shouldered Hawks today.
1. Sherburne County - 9:30 am - Same location as the Great Blue Heron 
sighting.
2. Anoka County - 3:00 pm - CR 26/229th Avenue, just West of E. Bethel Blvd.
3. Anoka County - 3:05 pm - CR 26/229th Avenue, about a mile East of E. 
Bethel Blvd.

Barred Owl - Isanti County - 2:45 pm - The bird was observed sitting in a 
Black Spruce tree on the North side of CR 56 about 1/2 mile West of CR 12.

Red-headed Woodpecker - Anoka County - 3:30 pm - CR 26/229th Avenue, 1/4 
mile East of E. Bethel Blvd.

Northern Shrike - Two birds were observed by our group.
1. Isanti County - 1/4 mile East of the Barred Owl sighting.
2. Hennepin County - Sitting at the top of a tree, next to the pond South of 
my House in Minnetonka.

Horned Lark - Observed in small numbers on most of the side roads were 
traveled.

Varied Thrush - Mille Lac's County - 10:30 am - This is the bird which has 
previously been posted along CR 1.  We first observed the bird at the feeder 
and then on the roof of the house next to the feeder.  It was interesting to 
watch on the roof, as it was eating snow there.

Snow Bunting - These were observed in a number of locations, mixed in with 
Horned Larks.

Craig Mandel
EgretCMan at msn.com
Minnetonka, Hennepin County