Hey Minnesota Birders- John Ellis and I birded Black Dog and the Bloomington areas of the Minnesota Valley NWR this morning, with some success. We totalled 33 species in a few hours of birding.
Black Dog Lake: 1st-year Glaucous Gull at the west end of Black Dog Lake 2 American White Pelicans. I assume these birds have been seen before? Green-winged Teal - a lone female in with mallards Common Goldeneye - one bird in with common mergansers Hooded Merganser - at the outflow - no GBB Gull Old Cedar Avenue- Poking around we found a feeder in an apartment building just across from the gardening business just before the road dead-ends at the Old Cedar Bridge. There were at least 5-6 PINE SISKINS, a grackle, and a Northern Flicker. And finally, between the Bass Ponds and the refuge head-quarters, we spotted a PEREGRINE FALCON flying north. Also, yesterday my dad had 2 COMMON REDPOLLS at his feeder on Saint Clair avenue in Saint Paul. Good yard birds for the metro area. Good birding- Jesse Ellis
