This afternoon/evening I went hiking around Flandrau State Park in New
Ulm, Brown County in search of migrants. I was surprised to find
around 30 Empidonax flycatchers in the park; of these, I was able to
identify only two individuals to species: two Yellow-bellied. One of
the birds was an adult in bright, clean plumage, i.e. yellow throat
and rest of underparts, yellowish wash throughout upperparts. The
second bird was not seen well, but it was heard singing its spring
song "CHEE-bunk" several times from a hidden perch. This is the latest
date I have heard a singing Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
But other than the above two birds, all the other empids remained
silent and nondescript; not even a "whit," "pip," or "chu-wee" was
heard. Elsewhere in the park I found good numbers of vireos, but
except for two Philadelphia and one Yellow-throated, they were all
Red-eyed. Warblers were rather disappointing, with only five
individuals present: one Common Yellowthroat, two American Redstarts,
one Tennessee, and one Wilson's.
There was also a Barred Owl calling at the western end of the park.
Bob Dunlap, Nicollet County
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