Hello all,
Eight hardy birders joined me Saturday morning for a long jaunt through
the southern Twin Cities suburbs down into southern Dakota County in
search of interesting breeding birds. Despite rain off and on
throughout the day, we had a fantastic day, with most of our target
species being very cooperative. The forest areas at Murphy-Hanrehan
were quiet in the heavy rain. Big surprises were American Bittern at
Old Cedar Ave, Black-billed Cuckoo out in the shrubby grassland at Black
Dog Preserve, and a singing Alder Flycatcher at Murphy-Hanrehan.
Here are some of the highlights:
Old Cedar Ave.
Wood Duck - tons; I counted 303 from the boardwalk
Gadwall - one male out on the marsh before the trip started
American Bittern - one dropped into the marsh along just north of the
parking lot
cuckoo sp. - one flyby in the parking lot
Black Dog Preserve
Bell's Vireo - at least 3 males singing in the willow/sumac treeline
Black-billed Cuckoo - one very cooperative bird in brushy areas
Willow Flycatcher - 3-4 singing
Murphy-Hanrehan
Alder Flycatcher - one singing near the Horse Camp parking lot
Blue-winged Warbler - several singing west of Horse Camp parking lot
Henslow's Sparrow - one seen well, and ~5 singing, in the grasslands in
the southwest part of the park (Matthew Schaut, one of the trip
participants, recently heard some 15-20 Henslow's in this area)
UMore Park area at 155th St & Akron Ave in Dakota County
Dickcissel - many
Eastern Meadowlark
Randolph Industrial Park
Dickcissel - many, sitting up and singing
Bobolink
Grasshopper Sparrow - many, easily seen
Eastern & Western Meadowlark - both present, singing, in same binocular
field
Other miscellaneous things
Loggerhead Shrike - pair with 3 fledglings along Fischer Ave near the
start of the pavement (south of 180th St)
Bobolink - many at Laigle Ave in SW Dakota County
Sedge Wren - many, singing at most grassland sites
Clay-colored Sparrow - several sites, adults carrying food to nests
Savannah Sparrow - several sites, adults carrying food (caterpillars) to
nests
Brewer's Blackbird - one male at 180th St marsh, only one seen all day
Good birding,
Matt Dufort
Minneapolis
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