6/26/05-- Olmsted County Yesterday, Saturday, my brother Chris and I found a single, t-slicking HENSLOW'S SPARROW at Chester Woods County Park, approximately 5 miles east of Rochester on Hwy. 14.
As you enter the park, go past the contact station, and you will see a large, brome field on your left. Park in the lot closest to the fishing pier and proceed to the trails heading northeast from the parking area. The fields are thick with sedge wrens and dickcissels along with eastern meadowlarks. We also saw a female nothern harrier fly over us as we headed east. As the trail begins to parallel Hwy. 14, begin to listen for the sparrow. The area is fairly extensive and there may be more than one Henslow's in the field. As long as I can remember, I have never been witness to so many Henslow's sparrows in the state in one year! I have personally see/heard them in Carver, Dakota, Fillmore, Olmsted, Sherburne, Wabasha, and Winona. The sparrows have been present in at least 15 counties, if not more (!), this summer. To follow-up: Chris Benson, along with his cousin Murphy, also saw/heard the sparrow today, Sunday, around mid-morning. John Hockema Rochester, MN
