Nathan & I had some extra time over the holiday weekend to bird Sherburne, Mille Lacs Counties and Rice Lake NWR. Highlights among the 102 species (see, July is not "Death Valley") included:
* Calling Whip-poor-wills at 8:00 AM (Kathio State Park near Interpretive Center) * Henslow's Sparrows in three counties (Sherburne NWR along CR 9/.2 mile east of Blue Hill Trail, Kunkel WMA in Mille Lacs County/second 160th Street entrance, Rice Lake Auto Tour - thanks, Herb D. for the first two) * Acadian Flycatcher (still on Mahnomen Trail) * Pelicans in both Mille Lacs (lake on west side of 169 just before reservation) & Sherburne Counties (Auto Tour) * Osprey on 169 (Aitkin) * Black-billed Cuckoo in Mille Lacs County (just before reservation) * Purple Finches in Sherburne NWR (first part of Mahnomen Trail) and Rice Lake NWR (feeders) We had ten sparrows, eight blackbirds & seven flycatchers - but only seven warblers, four ducks, one shorebird and five woodpeckers. Good birding to all! Al & Nathan Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
