In addition to Alyssa's posting last night of the Cinnamon Teal seen at the Crookston sewage ponds on 26 April (again, special arrangements are needed to bird this restricted location), a few other birds of note were seen by the Minn Birding Weekends group in Polk Co this past weekend (26-27 April).
As with other birders in Minnesota, we dealt with cold temperatures, very high winds, blowing snow, and icy/snow-packed roads. Some of the group were unable to get to Crookston at all or arrived a half day late, we were unable to get out and do any birding until late Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday morning some of the roads we intended to bird were drifted shut. But during our limited birding effort we saw: Gr White-fronted and Cackling geese - large gravel pit pond 1.5 mi W of Glacial Ridge NWR office Greater Scaup - several at Crookston sewage ponds; also at Ada sewage ponds (Norman Co) Red-necked Grebe - Crookston and Ada sewage ponds Western Grebe - 2 at gravel pit pond Sharp-tailed Grouse - only 2 found: both along Co Rd 45, near jct with Co Rd 44 Gr Prairie-Chicken - many (along with Sandhill Cranes) at numerous locations along and near Co Rd 45; also in Norman Co along Co Rd 28 along W side of Twin Valley Prairie SNA Great Egret - gravel pit pond Peregrine Falcon - adult flying W along Co Rd 45 by Pembina Trail SNA Spotted Sandpiper - Crookston sewage ponds Dunlin - 2 at gravel pit pond (possible California Gull - partly obscured view of an adult that appeared to be this species, standing with other gulls on a levee at Crookston sewage ponds; its eye and leg colors were not visible, and it could not be relocated when we went closer for a better view) Short-eared Owl - 2 just S of Co Rd 45, along the W side of Pembina Trail SNA unidentified shrike - very brief view at the gravel pit pond Lark Sparrow - just E of Crookston sewage ponds entrance gate Lapland Longspur - probably a few thousand in all: flocks of 100 or more at several locations, with some grounded along roadsides for nice views of males in breeding plumage Kim Eckert
