Out for about a half hour at dusk east of Hastings today (Monday) and found seven species of warblers including Wilsons, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Blue-winged and Black and White. Also had two Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. Yesterday I had a migrating Red-eyed Vireo in my yard.
Shorebird sites were quickly surveyed Sunday and Monday. Castle Rock sod farms: Dry. Only a few Killdeer. Jirik sod farm (Empire): same Etters Bottoms (Goodhue Co. just over Vermillion River): no shorebird habitat Lake Bylessby: high water; no shorebird habitat 140th Street marsh: water really low with plenty of exposed mud. No shorebirds (a week ago) . 180th Street marsh: water low with much exposed mud. Shorebirds flying, but mostly on far side. Only Killdeer ID'd. Mud Lake or Bullfrog Lake (on Ravenna Trail east of Hastings). Good habitat, but no shorebirds seen. Checked the meadow at Miesville Ravine and found the spotted jewelweed significantly reduced from previous years. Looked at one plant, which had purple spots on its leaves. Another plant nearby had completely wilted with its normally green stems turned purple. Flowers were still blooming though wilted. It looked as if the plant had succumbed recently and quickly. At a couple of other sites that should have had jewelweed, I could not find any. The jewelweed around my house looks healthy, but seems sparcer than previously. Pale jewelweed does not seem to affected. Spotted jewelweed is the most important nector source at this time of year for Ruby-throated Hummers. Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN [email protected]
