On Saturday afternoon 3/28 Scott Henkemeyer and I trekked some of the areas in the St. John's University Arboretum and other areas close to St. John's. In the wetlands area soon after you enter SJU on Cty. Rd. 159 off freeway 94 there was some water open. We found at least 200 Canada Geese and but most exciting was a lone Greater White Fronted Goose standing amongst several of the Canadas. Also in this open water were a couple pair of Wood Ducks, a couple of groups of 4-5 Male Hooded Mergansers courting a female and of course several Mallards. Close by was a lone American Tree Sparrow in a bush and saw a lone male RW Blackbird flying in the reeds. In the summer there are literally hundreds of them in this area. In other parts of the arboretum we saw and heard drumming of Pileated, Hairy and Downy. Heard a Sandhill Crane close by flying around but didn't get a look as well as Pine Siskins high up in conifers. Also of interest in the northern end of St. John's in a clearing area where wood is cut just off of Cty. Rd. 159 (close to the cemetery) we saw a half dozen or so Wild Turkey, Eastern Bluebirds and got a very good look at a pair of Red-Shouldered Hawks. One of them in particular which glided right above us revealing both lower and upper parts and imparting its very distinguishable call. Peter Johnson and Scott Henkemeyer St. Cloud, MN
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