Hey birders! I had a chance to get out Friday morning (sorry about the tardiness of this report) and again Monday morning for a couple of hours.
Here are the highlights: At least 500 pelicans have taken up residence at Swan Lake in Nicollet County. They might be doing a draw down there, concentrating the fish and making the lake a pelican magnet. Also had great looks at Western, Red-necked, and Eared Grebes at Swan Lake too. A single Henslow's Sparrow was located singing in the vicinity of Kasota Prairie (Le Sueur County). The bird was located approximately .25 miles east of the corner Kasota plot on the south side of the road. There were also numerous Grasshopper Sparrows, Easterna and Western Meadowlarks, and Bobolinks. (This field has also been good for Upland Sandpiper this year) Seven-mile Creek County Park (Nicollet County--west side of Hwy 169) is still very productive. Friday I had a tardy Tennessee Warbler as well as Cerulean, Yellow, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, American Redstart, gnatcatcher (on nest), Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (on nest), and Indigo Bunting. A short visit on Monday produced the same list only substituting a Chestnut-sided Warbler for the Tennessee. This bird may be nesting here; the habitat was appropriate. Flycatchers must be late this year. On Friday I had two Olive-sided Flycatchers sitting on the telephone wires along Judson Bottom Road. Those were my first for the year. Willow Flycatcher has been noticeably absent from their typical haunts. Anyone else noticed the same thing? Happy birding! Chad Heins Mankato, MN __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com
