I had a few interesting sightings in Anoka and Chisago counties this morning. Anoka: Least Bitterns, American Bittern - Carlos Avery WMA Pool 4. One of the Least Bitterns was quite vocal at the east end of the pool. Many Black Terns here as well. Black Billed Cuckoos - Carlos Avery - vocal, two sighted, more heard, one was very cooperative, perching on a bare branch. Cerulean Warbler - On the road to the Linwood Lake boat access from county hwy 22, near the lake end of the road, where there is a large puddle on one side of the road. Easily observed as it sang from either side. Common Ravens - pair flying down county 74 near the Gordie Mikkelson WMA. Both Willow and Alder flycatchers were common in appropriate habitat. Chisago: Prothonotary Warbler pair were present at the Osceola Bottoms (11:00). I reached the territory by parking in the St. Croix Natl Scenic River picnic area. I took the footpath under the bridge from the parking area and took it a short distance to a fallen tree in the path (if you reach a spot where there is a "bridge" made from a guardrail, go back a few yards to the tree), then followed a barely discernable (deer?) path to the left. The male could be heard singing at this point, I followed the path a short distance to a floodplain where the path was no longer needed. The male spent most of the time I was there singing and preening on a sunny branch, I observed a second bird enter a nest cavity. Note that this location is not directly adjacent to any water, but is directly behind the "Welcome to Minnesota" wayside as Milt Blomberg described last week. Turtle Notes: Wood Turtle observed laying eggs in Carlos Avery, I haven't seen one of these for years. Softshell Turtles (not sure which species would be here) were basking on sandbars in the Saint Croix at Osceola. Doug Kieser Minneapolis
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