The weekend heat wave has transformed the bird world overnight. I traveled Sunday up the Mississippi River from Winona to Wabasha and found:
In Winona, two PIED-BILLED GREBES on Lake Winona and one SANDHILL CRANE calling on Prairie Island Road. On Prairie Island and Riley Lake, I found 17 duck species. Some were scarce: Only a few wigeons, green- and blue-winged teals, pintails, black ducks and wood ducks were seen and only one each of canvasback and redhead. The only regular ducks missed were red-breasted merganser and ruddy. However, I did see four fly-by red-breasted mergansers on the river in Buffalo County, Wis. On Rollingstone Township Road 8 in Winona County, one FOX SPARROW, and a mixed blackbird flock that included 16 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, four COMMON GRACKLES and one BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. Also on this remote road, one gray-phase screech owl was peeking out of a wood duck box. For those wanting to see bald eagles on the river, it's prime now. They dotted the trees and the ice today. I must have seen 200-300 eagles. The day list for Winona County came to an even 50. Great timing of weather and weekend! Regards, Jeff Dankert 908 Parks Ave Apt 158 Winona MN 55987-5330 (507) 454-0033 [email protected]
