In many ways January was "normal": 55 species, usual Sherburne & Mille Lacs walks & drives mixed with two Aitkin and one cities trips, mix of dead quiet days with occasional serendipitous sightings. However, there were some aberrations:
* Slaty-backed sighting before Herring or Ring-billed * Mountain Bluebird before Eastern * Only one owl all month - count 'em, one - single Barred - no Great Grays (despite Hedbom & two Aitkin 18 sorties) - no Great Horned - no Short-eared in Sherburne (despite numerous December sightings and seven trips to the CR 5 & 9 intersection area that had yielded past encounters) - strong owling in December included all of the above * Only one Shrike in Sherburne County all month, none in the refuge * No Common Redpolls all month, anywhere - numerous in December. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
