Non-shorebird migrants are beginning to meander their way into Carver County. Through yesterday, I had actually seen more obvious(excluding what are very likely migrating Redstart and Yellow Warbler that I have been seeing) migrating warbler in July vs. the first two weeks of August. I saw 5 migrating warbler in July: Tennessee (2), Nashville, Black-and-white, and Northern Waterthrush. The first two weeks of August I only found a lone Black-and-white Warbler and a lone Northern Waterthrush. Other obvious non-shorebird migrants seen this month through yesterday included a couple Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Swainson's Thrush. This morning at Carver Park Reserve I found Alder Flycatcher, Black-and-white, Tennessee, and Blackburnian Warbler. As for shorebirds, most are aware of the available habitat in the county. I have made many visits out to western Carver County beginning in July, but suitable habitat was lacking in July so most of my best luck with shorebirds began on August 1. I ended up having my most productive shorebirding yesterday morning beginning a bit after sunrise, as the overnight rains had raised water levels at New Germany and shorebirds had been forced closer to the edges of the wetland off of both Yale and Yancy Ave. I found 11 shorebird species including Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's, and Red-necked Phalarope. There were even a few shorebirds in the Tacoma Ave. area as the overnight rains had yielded the most suitable habitat in that area than has been available since I've been checking in July. Keep in mind, for those thinking of last year, that the Tacoma Ave. area received over 15 inches of rain during the months of July and August 2016, and that is why the habitat remained for such an extended period of time. This July and so far this August that area has probably received less than half of that.
John Cyrus ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
