Spent the better part of Saturday morning/early afternoon and then Sunday = morning at Sherburne NWR this past weekend. Birding was pretty good both = days with over 50 species seen without truly trying (I was there for = photography more than birding.) Some quite good flight shots of Black = Terns, Scarlet Tanager and a Lark Sparrow shot amongst others are now = posted at http://www.avianphotos.org
Highlights included: 6 Lark Sparrows - A couple were right before you enter the small wooded = section and a couple were in a small scrubland area between the first and = second observation pull-offs Vesper Sparrow - One seen near the first observation area just 50 feet or = less down the prairie trail, another seen in the scrubland between first = and second observation pulls offs near the Lark Sparrows Swamp Sparrow - In the reeds on the right just past the woodland area. Scarlet Tanager - 2 seen in the wooded area Pileated Woodpecker - Pair in the woodland area. Sandhill Cranes - 1 seen just around the first corner as you enter the = wildlife drive. Several heard/seen flying overhead at various areas Common Loon - 2 seen in a large pond area on the left about midway through = the drive. No young noted, but it did appear that the loons were a pair. = I forgot to note what the name of the area is. Black Tern + Fledgling - Black Tern pair seen fishing over the waters with = a fledgling. Never had seen a recently fledged Black Tern. The mottled = colors were very pretty. Trumpeter Swans - Pair on the last pond/lake area before you exit the = drive near where the Bald Eagle Nest is. One was sitting on a nest with = the other close by. Also had 5 fly overhead while in the woodland area. Chris Fagyal Senior Software Engineer United Defense, L.P. Fridley, MN (763) 572-5320 [email protected]
