This afternoon while birding in Steele County, I happened upon a Snowy Egret near Rice Lake. The bird wasn't at Spindler's Pond. It was actually at a pond a few miles northwest of Rice Lake. Take the road going north out of the town of Rice Lake. This is the Dodge/Steele County line road. It goes north for a mile, then it curves west. Go roughly two miles west and then turn north on NE 64th Ave. Go a little over a mile, and then to the east you will see an Elk farm, and behind it is a large pond. The Snowy Egret was hanging out on the south shore with several Great Egrets.
Also, at the time I was in Steele County, I had no idea there was a Townsend's Warbler reported in Owatonna. I even ate lunch in Owatonna today! So unfortunately I have no update on the warbler. Ben Fritchman Long Prairie, Todd County
