Hey birders,
Bob Dunlap and I led fieldtrips for Saturday and Sunday in Blue Earth (Sat) and
Nicollet (Sun) Counties. We had 11 participants on Saturday and 8 on Sunday.
Between the two days we saw 132 species and a post-fieldtrip fieldtrip by Tom
Dahlen and Chris Thiem resulted in the discovery of a White-faced Ibis at the
Perch WPA (and 3 other species found by Bob and I when we chased the ibis).
Perch Lake and the new Perch WPA still seem to be drawing the shorebirds.
Perch Lake is being drawn down now and there were about 200 shorebirds there on
Saturday with single Hudsonian Godwit, Wilson's Phalarope, and Ruddy Turnstone
mixed in with a flock of mostly Dunlin with Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers.
On Sunday when Bob and I chased the White-faced Ibis (and the bird flushed from
the WPA over to the lake proper) we discovered about 300 peeps swirling over
the extensive mudflats. This flock was largely Semipalmated Sandpipers and
Least Sandpipers with some Dunlin and Baird's Sandpipers mixed in and a single
Stilt Sandpiper. On Saturday a single Black-bellied Plover, a Lesser
Yellowlegs, and a couple of Short-billed Dowitchers were at the adjacent Perch
WPA.
Other highlights from Saturday included a Red-headed Woodpecker at its next
hole, an early Dickcissel at Perch WPA, a pair of Trumpeter Swans at Perch
Lake, and Lark Sparrows just south of Schimek County Park. We also enjoyed
walking through a field of Bobolinks at Cobb River WPA and seeing 7 duck
species at Perch WPA. We did not find any Louisiana Waterthrushes on Minneopa
Creek this year and as of now the Kentucky Warbler has not been seen at
Williams Nature Park along Hwy 68. Warblers and forest passerines were hard to
come by in the hot winds.
Sunday's time was split between Seven Mile Creek County Park and the WMA north
of Nicollet on the east side of CR111. Seven Mile Creek County Park yielded
great views of Olive-sided, Yellow-bellied, and Alder Flycatchers, Scarlet
Tanager, Magnolia Warbler, and our lone White-throated Sparrow. We also heard
Veery, Swainson's Thrush, and Wood Thrush as well as Mourning Warbler,
Blue-winged Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, and Canada Warbler. Everything is
pretty leafed out which made views a little trickier.
The Nicollet WMA had several singing Grasshopper Sparrows, Red-necked Grebe, a
late Common Loon, and a frustratingly close Least Bittern who called constantly
but wouldn't reveal his retreat.
More notes on the White-faced Ibis: The bird was first found on the dead-end
road at Perch WPA (597 Ln) which goes north from CR4 east of Hwy 22. There is
a sizeable wetland on the east side which the bird seemed to really like. He
was found there initially, flew northeast to Perch Lake where he foraged for
about 15 minutes before returning to the WPA. He was there when we left
shortly after 5:30pm last night.
Mike Butterfield also indicated to me that he found Prothonotary Warblers
behind the treaty site building on the north side of St. Peter along Hwy 169.
You may recall that a pair of birds was present last year in this location.
Thanks to all who participated and I hope you'll come back to the Bend for more
birding soon!
Chad Heins
Mankato, MN
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