Went out for a second round of birding on Monday. I had to get a taste of all that waterfowl action I've been reading about. Lock and Dam 3 at Prairie Island had several rafts of mixed species. Along with the Canada
Geese, their were good numbers of Scaup. Pairs of Common Merganser kept company with Mallards and Gadwall. Two pair of American Widgeon, and one pair of Bufflehead kept to the middle of the channel. On the far side I picked out about 6 Northern Shoveler. Bald Eagles were everywhere, I counted at least two dozen from the view at the end of the drive, but I wasn't really searching for them. One Great Blue Heron stood on the ice stubbornly clinging to a backwater pond. He must have been thinking Van de Camps! On the drive out we spotted a pair of Bluebirds that had ignored the NSP "No Trespassing" signs and one Killdeer on some mud flats near the hwy 18 intersection. Drove to the Ravena Trail bridge for some excellent views of Common and Hooded Merganser. They were frisky! A number of Bald Eagle at this location also. The songs of the Red-winged Blackbirds are a tonic for the spirit! Good Birding to All, Kelly Feathered Friend -- Visit Our Website ~ http://www.thefeatheredfriend.com The Great River Birding Festival Is Coming http://www.mississippi-river.org/birding/
