I had a delightful day birding Lake Elmo Park. I encountered a fallout of Golden-crowned Kinglets on Trail C, leading towards the red barn. They were feeding low. I was surrounded! A single Ruby-crowned Kinglet kept the red crown stripe visible the whole time I watched him working close to my position. Brown Creepers, Eastern Bluebirds and a Fox Sparrow were also present. Two Northern Shrikes and one Rough-legged Hawk made appearances. On Eagle Point Lake the variety of waterfowl is increasing: Buffleheads (4 females), Northern Pintails (3 males), over 50 Hooded Mergansers, and a small number of Ring-necked Ducks filled out the many Canada Geese, Mallards, Gadwalls, and American Wigeon on the west side of the lake, towards the north end.
Linda Sparling Hennepin County
