The Minn Birding Weekends (MBW) group just completed a 3-day weekend
(April 10-11-12) in Grant, s.w. Otter Tail, and parts of Wilkin Co's.
Almost all the lakes were still 100% frozen, although there was plenty
of open water for 1000s of waterfowl in shallow potholes and temporary
snow-melt ponds in the fields. However, woods birds were generally
scarce in most of the wooded areas we checked. Following are the
highlights of our trip:
- Gr White-fronted Goose - many 100s still migrating, with a single
flock of ~2,500 on April 10 in a field along Otter Tail Co Rd 1, 8 mi
S of Fergus Falls. (However, Snow Geese were virtually non-existent;
we probably saw <50 individuals total during the 3 days.)
- Ross's Goose - on April 11 flying over Wilkin Co Rd 26, 4 mi W of
Rothsay.
- Tundra Swan - also present by the 100s, with a single flock of
~3,000 today in Wilkin Co just W of the Otter Tail Co line, 2.5 mi N
of Wilkin Co Rd 4.
- Marbled Godwit - 5 or 6 along Wilkin Co Rd 26 on April 11, ~4 mi W
of Rothsay. (However, Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe were the only other
shorebirds we found, despite the presence of mudflats everywhere in
the flooded fields.)
- (Possible adult California Gull - today along Otter Tail Co Rd 15, 1
mi S of the Fergus Falls Airport; bill and overall size were
consistent with this species, but the gull took off and flew out of
site towards the SW before we could confirm its leg and eye colors.)
- Eur Collared-Dove - E side of the town of Herman, Grant Co. on April
10; Steve Millard also reported this species on April 11 in Rothsay,
Wilkin Co.
- Short-eared Owl - on April 11 along Wilkin Co Rd 26, 3 mi W of
Rothsay.
- Pileated Woodpecker - flying over U S Hwy 75 on the N side of
Breckenridge, Wilkin Co. on April 11.
- Loggerhead and Northern shrikes - 1 of each simultaneously (!)
within a few feet of each other on April 11 along 190th St, 1/2 mile E
of Wilkin Co Rd 15 (this has to be the first time I've ever seen both
shrikes together at the same time).
- Snow Bunting - 2 lone individuals on April 10 in Grant Co, with one
of these perched on a utility wire!
Other migrants of note included: Cackling Goose, all the normally
occurring ducks (including Greater Scaup at 2 locations; only 1 Ruddy
Duck), Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Am White Pelican, Great Egret,
migrating raptors (dozens on April 11 over Breckenridge, Wilkin Co:
mostly eagles, harriers, accipiters and Red-taileds), Sandhill Crane
(but only <20 total), Bonaparte's Gull, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, N
Flicker (several dozen migrating today), Tree Swallow, Golden-crowned
& Ruby-crowned kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lapland Longspur,
Yellow-headed & Rusty & Brewer's blackbirds.
Kim Eckert
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