8/11/2008 While I have been unable to get back out to the Louisville Swamp Unit, since my walk there on the 2nd I would guess that the area should still be good for shorebirds unless we get a lot of rain. With my work schedule and traveling since the 2nd, this has been my first chance to spend any time catching up on emails. So sorry for any delay on getting out some info on this location.
To reach the Louisville Swamp Unit, take Highway 169 South from the Twin Cities and past the intersection with Highway 41 and South of Shakopee. Continue about another mile and 1/2 to 145th Street West. Turn Right and follow this to past the entrance to the Renaissance Festival grounds and turn left near the end of the road. There is a large parking area here. To get to the shorebird location take the trail that starts at the North end of the parking lot ( closest to the entrance). Follow this trail until it crosses over Sand Creek at a large rock and gravel spillway. There were mud flats on both sides of the trail on the 2nd, but the area to the East had the larger number of shorebirds. I would guess that it is about a 35 or 40 minute walk to reach this location and that does not include any time spent stopping to bird on the way out. There are pretty good trail maps and other information on the Refuges web page, which can be found with a search for Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Good luck for anyone who has the time to bird there and sorry for the delay in my responses about the location, Craig Craig Mandel, Minnetonka, MN EgretCMan at msn.com
