May 14, 2007 Had a change in my schedule and spent the day with a small group bird watching in the Mankato area, instead of Fairmont. We heard more birds than we observed, but did observe some very nice species. Here is a list of a few of those with locations of the sighting.
8:00 - 8:30 am - Minneopa State Park - Falls area - Louisiana Waterthrush - First heard then observed a singing Louisiana Waterthrush from the gray wooden bridge that crosses over Minneopa creek, about 100 yards from the falls. 9:15 - 10:30 am - Williams Nature Center - Kentucky Warbler - We observed a singing male Kentucky Warbler at Williams Nature Center. To reach the area that we observed the bird at from the parking lot, head on the trail to the right of the nature center and take the first trail to the right. Follow this around through the thick Oak wood lot and into the more open wood area. The bird was singing from a perch about 25 feet off the ground, on the left side of the trail and back in about 150 feet. It took some time for the entire group to see the bird, as it was back in a ways. But if it continues in that area it should be easy to see with some patience. Its favorite perch was behind a fairly large tree with lots of missing bark. 11:00 - Noon - Seven Mile Creek County Park Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Just West of the last parking lot Cerulean Warbler - A male was singing from one of the tallest Cottonwood trees on the South side of the ravine. We parked at the parking lot for the first picnic shelter and the bird was just South of that. Craig Mandel, Minnetonka, MN EgretCMan at msn.com
