Salt Lake Bird Count April 26-April 28, 2024 Total 130
Salt Lake Bird Count April 29-April 30, 2023 Total 139
Salt Lake Bird Count April 26-April 28, 2019 Saturday 123, Friday 3, Sunday 3, Total 129
Salt Lake Bird Count April 27-April 29, 2018 Saturday 139, Friday 3, Sunday 2, Total 144
Salt Lake Bird Count April 28-April 30, 2017 Saturday 139, Friday 5, Sunday 3, Total 147
Salt Lake Bird Count April 22-April 24, 2016 Saturday 117, Friday 1, Sunday 8, Total 126
For 47 years, birders from around the state gathered at the end of April to cruise the prairie wetlands of Lac qui Parle County in search of migratory shorebirds. While the formal Salt Lake Birding Weekend is no longer being held, I encourage you to explore the Salt Lake area in the spring.
Salt Lake, the only alkaline body of water in Minnesota—and the largest such body between Utah and the Atlantic—was renowned in the past for its expansive mudflats. A magnet for northbound shorebirds, millions each spring would descend on the flats to feast on protein-rich marine crustaceans, fairy shrimp and mollusks. A vital pitstop effectively situated at the halfway point between the Sea of Cortez and the Arctic shore, Salt Lake became known, by the late 1970s, as the premiere destination for Minnesota shorebird viewing.
In recent years, Salt Lake’s best mudflats have not been visible from the road, and have required a bit of a hike to reach them. These areas are down through the prairie, below the observation deck, and also out at the end of the western peninsula. Avocets and godwits are often lounging there amid flocks of geese and gulls.
A spotting scope is recommended for birding anywhere on Salt Lake.
From the roadside, the best viewing sites are on the bend along the northwest corner of the lake, just a few feet from the shoulder. It’s directly across the lake (due west) from the viewing platform. You will technically be viewing from South Dakota if you are standing on the road. For photographers, this is probably the best area for getting active shorebird pics with a telephoto lens.
Despite its chronic high water due to heavy winter and spring precipitation, Salt Lake remains an excellent place to view waterfowl. On the first weekend of March, in 2023, I estimated there were 60,000 Snow Geese on the newly opened water. During spring migration especially, it is an excellent place to spot any of Minnesota’s typical grebes, with a decent chance of running into a Clark’s. Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes are also likely to still be present during high water years. Trumpeter and Tundra swans, Cackling and Ross’s geese also make regular appearances during peak waterfowl times. Just about any duck that passes through Minnesota could potentially end up here as well. The western shores around the peninsula have yielded some Sharp-tailed Grouse sightings in the past decade. The north end of the lake is also becoming a reliable place to find and photograph Short-eared Owls throughout the month of April.
Another area nearby that I’d encourage you to explore are the easily-flooded, hummock-strewn pastures and hayfields around Gollnick and Northeast Four Corners WMAs. This is between Madison and Marietta. The whole area is worth meandering, especially during a high water year. All manner of shorebirds turn up here; White-faced Ibis, Marbled and Hudsonian godwits especially seem to enjoy browsing through the hummocky pastures when they flood. It is also a good spot for winnowing snipes and, at twilight, dancing American Woodcocks.
Sharp-tailed Grouse were lekking at Mound Spring SNA down near the border with Gary, SD, back in 2018. That is also an excellent place to spot longspurs, Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Northern Harriers, Short-eared Owls, and American Kestrels. I’ve seen Swainson’s Hawks soaring there repeatedly, and have had a Prairie Falcon there twice.
Antelope Hills WMA has similar habitat to Mound Spring SNA. This area, along with the nearby Florida Creek WMA system, has a nice mixture of river bottoms, old cottonwood growth, gnarly pastures, and minimum maintenance roads. This is an excellent area for Wild Turkeys and Red-headed Woodpeckers, which nest there in abundance during summer. You may notice a lot of Great Blue Herons around there, too. There’s a big rookery hidden nearby, whose precise location will remain classified.
Caerulean and Perry WMAs are both great spots for grebes. Also be sure to check out places like Walter WMA, Yellow Bank Hills, Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, Cory Lake at Hamlin WMA, Sweetwater WMA, and Bolson Slough WPA.
Lac qui Parle State Park, the Emily Creek drainage area near the Milan bridge, Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, and Marsh Lake are worth exploring as well. All are excellent sites to find large congregations of Bald Eagles, especially at ice-out.
In the Refuge, the outcrop trails offer views of migratory raptors like in the spring, and the pools easily visible from the Auto Tour Route have consistently yielded Black-necked Stilts and breeding Western Grebes, along with both Eastern and Spotted towhees, in the past couple of years.
On Marsh Lake, meander through the river bottom woods to the new dam, or check out the Black Terns along “The Louisburg Grade,” the county road that cuts across the northwest corner of the lake, just south of the little village of Correll.
I hope you enjoy birding and exploring the Salt Lake area.