Larry Olsen, Dale Yerger, Andrew Birch, and I did a birding day in Cass County yesterday, May 28th. Migration is coming to a close in the area, and only 5 or 6 of the 147 species seen were likely migrants. Of special note was a Pacific Loon spotted by Andrew Birch on Boy Bay in Leech Lake (seen from the Battle Point public access, in Gould Township). The bird was in alternate plumage and associating with a Common Loon. All 4 observers had great looks at the bird, which may be a first spring record for the county. The question of whether it could be an Arctic Loon was not seriously considered, although several low-quality images and a video were managed, and folks are welcome to study the results. Other birds of interest included a Lark Sparrow near Schoolcraft State Park, and a Ruddy Duck near Remer. Several Nelson's Sparrows were audible from the CR 8 bridge over the Boy River, and at least 6 Connecticut Warblers were heard in the bog along CR 135. Happy Memorial Day to all.
Ben Wieland ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
