Carol Schumacher and I birded Sunday in Winona, Fillmore and Houston counties. A total of 71 bird species including:
While hawk watching from 10-noon at a bluff top near Minneiska, we saw one imm. N. GOSHAWK, one imm. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, one adult GOLDEN EAGLE, and one adult COOPER'S HAWK. A PEREGRINE FALCON was in the cliff nest box at Latsch State Park. Also at Latsch, two TUFTED TITMICE, along with ruby- and golden-crowned kinglets. Near Utica, we watched and heard a flock of about 25 LAPLAND LONGSPURS fly around near sewage ponds. At the Lewiston sewage ponds, about 80 tundra swans, a few pintails and other waterfowl, but no shorebirds other than snipe and killdeer. On Gate Coulee Drive in Houston County, one WINTER WREN zipped across the road, fiddled in a grass pile, and then floated down a steep hill to the safety of a giant, moss-covered log. Along with waterfowl at Prairie Island late in the day, a total of 17 duck species. For those who want a good, unobstructed look at great horned owl chicks in the nest, check out the osprey nest on a power pole on Theurer Blvd. on the border of the cities of Winona and Goodview. Best viewing is from the Hiatt Manufacturing parking lot. Late in the day, the adults were off somewhere hunting but the two young were there, becoming more upright, starting to show ear tufts, their down turning buffy, but still with black facial masks. Regards, Jeff Dankert 908 Parks Ave Apt 158 Winona MN 55987-5330 (507) 454-0033 [email protected]
