Nathan & I journeyed to Wood Lake Reserve in Richfield and Crow-Hassan off of 101 (five miles or so from Rogers). Thank you, Conny B. for the directions to Wood Lake, Yahoo's directions (which I had downloaded earlier) were off by nearly 30 miles.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Hooded Warbler and Summer Tanager at Wood Lake - as well as a decent warbler and thrush movement - the rain did make birding a touch more challenging. Great birding area! We stopped at Crow-Hassan (take 101 south from Rogers, then Territorial Road west about five miles). Highlight there was a probable (can lightning strike twice on the same birder over the course of a year?) YB Chat calling in a small grove of trees about eight minutes down the middle foot path (not the larger trails). We never got a visual (ran out of time), so I cannot exclude a possible mocker (definitely not a catbird or thrasher) - but the whistles and calls were identical to those of last year's Sherburne Chat, as well as those that nest at Brooklyn NA in southern Wisconsin (former home area). Good birding to all! Nathan & Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
