Refound the Common Moorhen on Saturday. Not sure this is the same place Phillip referred to but ours was at the quarry road, which is two gates south of the Minnesota River on Cty Rd 15. The bird was in the open water almost right next to the road and was actively calling, presumably trying to attract a mate we would guess.
Had 7 species of shorebirds at the mud flats off Cty Rd 21, including 8 Marbled Godwits, one Willet, and a single Piping Plover keeping company with a Semipalmated Plover on the opposite side from the dam. It was running around some rocks on the mud flat and would occasionally disappear for lengths of time. Dennis and Barbara Martin [email protected] > Presently, conditions at the refuge's East Pool - the pool bounded by the highway-75 dam - are excellent, with extensive mud/sand flats. The East Pool held 174 shorebirds of 10 species last Saturday, 17 June - a respectable tally given the date, which is too late for most spring migrants but too early for most fall migrants; most notable among these was a single Piping Plover. > Also at the refuge, on 11 June there was a single Common Moorhen. From refuge headquarters, on CR 15, head south. On the east (left) side of the road, at the second gate south of the Yellow Bank River, park and walk past the gate; the moorhen was in the open channel immediately to your left, about 50 yards beyond the gate. > > Phil Chu > Department of Biology > St. John's University > Collegeville, MN 56321
