[mou] Goshawk, Merlin

[Dave Bartkey]

Hi everyone,

  I had a pretty good day of birding today. I checked the lakes around Rice
County without finding anything new or unusual for waterfowl, but I did have
a nice male Northern Harrier west of Warsaw. In the same location, I had two
sturnella meadowlarks, which remained silent, and I also saw a beautiful
dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk. 

 

  I then traveled to Waseca County in search of ducks and from the small
park on the north side of Loon Lake, there were a few things; the most
interesting being about 20 Canvasbacks and a pair of FOY Ruddy Ducks. While
observing the ducks, I got a glimpse of a small falcon flying by but wished
I could have had a better look. I was able to re-locate the bird across the
lake scaring up a bunch of starlings, but it was just too far away to notice
any details. Later, lamenting this fact, I was leaving the park, driving
down the street (7th Ave NW) when I noticed a bird perched on the TV antenna
of a residence. Thinking it might be something ornamental; I nevertheless
turned around to check it out and was delighted to find a Merlin! I had long
looks at it and the bird remained perched there after I left. Other birds of
interest that I found in Waseca County were Northern Shrike, Fox Sparrow,
and a small flock of Snow Buntings.

 

  Best of all, after returning home, I took our dog outside and while out
back, I noticed a raptor perched in a tree across the river. Noticing that
it was different, I called up to our apartment and asked my wife to grab my
binos and bring them down. The bird remained while I waited and when I was
able to get a look through the optics, I was astonished to see a juvenile
Northern Goshawk! Shortly thereafter, it left and flew off to parts unknown.
Probably looking for a duck dinner!

 

What a great Easter! Hope yours was as good!

 

Dave Bartkey

Faribault, MN

screechowl at charter.net 

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