July 23, 24, 25, 2006 Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter Big Stone Lake State Park Field Trip Report 123 - species observed
Just returned from leading a trip to Big Stone and Lac Qui Parle Counties. We were successful in refinding the previously reported Snowy Plovers & the Clark's Grebe at Lake Thielke. We also found at least five Least Bitterns at the Big Stone NWR, pool number 4. But we missed on the Common Moorhen that had been previously reported from that location. We found a few locations with shorebirds, but the best location was Big Stone NWR. Here are some of the species that we were able to locate during the trip. Eared Grebe - Salt Lake and Madison WMA, Lac Qui Parle County Clark's Grebe - Thielke Lake, Big Stone county - We observed two adult Clark's Grebes, both with young and associating with Western Grebes. American Bittern - Big Stone NWR, we observed two American Bitterns in the small pool on the North side of the driving tour, just south of the entrance to the auto tour. Least Bittern - Big Stone NWR, East side of CR 15, near road signed for an old quarry. Swainson's Hawk - Several were observed in Lac Qui Parle county. Virginia Rail Sora 16 species of Shorebirds, including one of the adult and two of the juvenile Snowy Plovers. Eurasian Collared Doves, were observed Milan, Appleton and heard in Ortonville. The birds in Milan were observed on the Grain elevator and the birds in Appleton were seen and heard on Hwy 7, across the street from the Cenex gas station. Loggerhead Shrike - a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes were observed along the North side of Hwy. 7, 3/10's of a mile east of Hwy. 75. Henslow's Sparrow -Several birds were heard and we also had a distant look at one. This was at the Plover Prairie, in Lac Qui Parle county 2 miles East of hwy. 75. Craig Mandel, Minnetonka, MN [email protected]
