This was a day with several FOYs. Opting to get our exercise at River Bend Nature Center before the Straight R.might flood, we started to the west with a check of Wells Lake. Viewing proved best from Wells L. Drive, which dead-ends in a small development. There we were serenaded by an E. Meadowlark, with a chorus of kildeer from the nearby field and sand flats. On the river, among the many Canadas, Mallards and Coots, were Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks, Black Ducks, Gadwall, American Wigeon, and Redheads.
We proceeded on to the rookery,where GBHE were examining the real estate. Down by the bridge was a pair of N. Pintail among the C. mergansers and Cormorants, and we were graced with a large, incoming flock of Greater White-fronted Geese. We had good looks at them, interrupted only when a young Bald Eagle buzzed the areas and spooked them. At River Bend the feeders were hosting, among others, juncos in an interesting variety of coloration, some of which reminded of the Oregon subspecies. There were also tree sparrows, and just off the main entry road, a song sparrow. We came across a couple of Pileated woodpeckers not far from the waterfall near the first parking lot. Taking back roads towards Byllesby, we passed through Nerstrand Woods SP, and paid quick respects to one of the Red-headed Woodpeckers. On the way out of the park, we spotted a Turkey near the road and a Kestrel on a telephone line. We then made a brief stop at Dennison, where a GBHE lifted up out of an overflowing ditch near the sewage ponds, and some N. Shovelers were feeding in a flooded field. Close to Randolph, we came across a flock of swans resting and feeding a bit in a field, and scoped them; their legs were very black and the bridge of their bills looked rounded rather than pointed, so even though we saw almost no yellow on the bills, we decided they must be tundras. Approaching Randolph, we found many C.Mergansers by the bridge on the Cannon River. We stopped at the cemetery on L. Byllesby, and were treated to a large number of Snow Geese, plus at least one more Greater White-fronted, among the Canadas. Once again, an Eagle spooked the birds, so there was no chance to search for any Ross' Geese. By the time we got home, we had seen 4 kestrels in 3 counties, in addition to many Red-tails and Eagles---a great day in Rice and Goodhue. Linda Whyte ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
