Took my binoculars and did my first bike ride of the year through the bike paths in Hyland. Saw many birds including a few first of the year.
At the big lake there were Bufflehead, Lesser Scaups, Ring-Necked Ducks, 2 Redheads, all 3 species of Mergansers, and 2 COMMON LOONS. There is more open water on the lake, but it is all still visible from one spot still, some with a spotting scope. There were a few dabblers out a ways, but I could not see them with my binoculars well. Also seen around the park near the bike paths: Northern Flicker Eastern Bluebirds (FOY) Tree Swallows (many flying and sitting on nest boxes, FOY) Killdeers (flying overhead) 2 Blue-winged Teals 2 Wood Ducks 1 Osprey on the nesting platform Song Sparrows 2 Field Sparrows (FOY) The frogs were singing in force today as others have said. We also had our first Chipping Sparrow in the backyard today. Ben Harste Bloomington, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
