Greetings: Kirsten and I were birding east Rice County this afternoon.At the sewage pond at Dennison, MN we saw two young birds, with down on the sides. We noticed that the bill was about an inch long and thin. Then an adult bird flew onto the road, leading into the sewage pond, where we were seeing the young birds. This bird had a yellow bill, about an inch+ long with a black tip. It was blackish on sides, wings, with a very buffy breast that was heavily barred. There was also some barring on the side. The birds had dark eyes and a dark stripe on the head with a light median stripe. It had a back and forth head motion as it walked. Could it be, an UPLAND SANDPIPER? I moved the car ahead, and the bird flew into the bean field. As it alighted it raised it wings: the final item I needed to identify it as an UPLAND SANDPIPER. We had just seen this species in Kansas this summer, but it was on a post. As it flew from one post to another, it raised its wings as it alighted on the post.
To reach Dennison, MN, from Minneapolis area, go south on I-35 to the Northfield exit. Or go south from St. Paul on State Highway #3. In Northfield, go south of the #19 Highway by the fire station, about a half mile or so to Highway 246 (Dennison Blvd). Turn left, east and follow this highway about 6 miles till you come to Kane Avenue. 246 turns south, continue east on Dennison Blvd. till you come to within a half mile west of Dennison. The entrance is on the south, right side, just beyond the,"slower speed ahead" sign , between two fields one beans the other corn. We saw the birds along this road about half way in to the sewage pond. The young kept right along side the roadway and got as close as 6-8 feet from the car. THE adult was not scared and just kept feeding, as did the young birds, and moving about. We got within 20 feet of the adult bird. I don't know what recent records there are of this species breeding in Rice County, or even the State of Minnesota, but it is the first for us. Rev. Forest and Kirsten Strnad Faribault, MN.