Today at Chaska Lake there were around 200 shorebirds present. Most interesting was an adult breeding-plumaged American Golden-Plover...I don't recall ever seeing one in July...seems somewhat early. Other species present:
Killdeer Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Several birders have asked if there is any closer viewing of the mudflats from the trail. The answer is no. However, the ground surrounding the mudflats is quite dry, so it is possible to walk out past the cattails in attempts to get closer to the birds. This may cause some disturbance to the birds, but they seem to just fly to another part of the lake. If you do walk out onto the mudlfats, please be respectful to both the birds and other birders...use common sense. Bob Dunlap, Carver County
