There were 50 Greater White-fronted Geese(counted 51 1st time and 49
2nd) with ~240 Tundra Swans(increase from 192 on Friday) south of Cty.
Rd. 52 between Cty. Rd. 51 and 33 just east of Assumption Lake. Some
or all of the geese may be the same that Doug Kieser reported
yesterday. Some of the fields along 150th St. froze overnight, mainly
the western side where the Tundra Swans and Geese were. There were
~130 Tundra Swans in the fields along 150th St. and far fewer Canada
Geese. I didn't notice any Greater White-fronted there, but there may
very well have been some. The eastern portion of the fields with all
the ducks did not freeze, and it looked pretty much like the same
number and species that Doug reported: Redhead, Canvasback, Mallard,
Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and the most Common Goldeneye that I have
seen in an area, 15(not had a whole lot of luck with this species in
high numbers) I found some Northern Shoveler and a Gadwall there and
did not see the Northern Pintail or Lesser Scaup(both were probably
there). A few ducks and Tundra Swans flew in while I was there. A
stream runs right through the center of the fields, so I have a feeling
it won't freeze anymore this year. Also, some Tundra Swans were in a
field north of Cty. Rd. 50 near Cty. Rd. 33 that hadn't been there
Friday. Yesterday, I found another flooded field with ~100 Tundra Swans
along 182nd St. east of Cty. Rd. 51. I'm starting to think that the
large number of Tundra Swans I saw flying over the refuge Wed. morning
were coming in to land and are the same as those now resting in the
flooded fields across Carver County.
This morning at Rapids Lake I saw my first few Blue-winged Teal(also
had some Gadwall and a larger flock of Hooded Merganser) while
yesterday the first Wood Ducks were in the area flying south.
Otherwise, yesterday there were 21 Common Mergansers on Rapids Lake(not
today). 17 Bald Eagles were on the ice and in surrounding trees of
Rapids Lake. This morning there were only 7 Bald Eagles that I saw,
and 25 Tundra Swans were on the lake at sunrise but left shortly after.
Between yesterday and today the rising flood waters had washed away
most of the ice. It looked like water rose several inches over the
last day, as now most of the hunters trail along the west side of
Rapids Lake is impassable.
More Bluebirds were around today and lots of singing Horned Larks were
along the roads as well. There was another significant day of
movement this morning, especially compared to yesterdays activity of
only some Grackles and small numbers of Canada Geese. Another couple
hundred blackbirds were flying over the refuge, with 1 cooperative
Rusty Blackbird flock of ~25. The rest were probably mixed with most
being Red-winged. Several hundred Canada Geese were heading north this
morning. Rounding it out, 2 Sandhill Cranes were flying low over
Chevalle wetlands in Chaska with 8 Canada Geese.
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