A few days ago I found a group of courting Hooded Mergansers at the west outfall of Black Dog Lake near 35w and the Minnesota River.
That day I also saw a Red-tailed Hawk flying by the Best Buy headquarters in Richfield carrying a stick. I will have to figure out where the nest is. Today I went down to Black Dog Lake where I ran into and joined Craig Mandel's group. I expect he will report later. The seven species of waterfowl that we saw, included a couple of Bufflehead that they probably did not find. I also stopped by a Dave Cahlander's in Burnsville to enjoy a cooperative and quite colorful Tufted Titmouse. The surprising visitors were a couple of Pine Siskins. The Northern Flicker continues to stop by my feeders as it has all winter. Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN sweston2 at comcast.net
