I went to Sibley county yesterday to check for the Prothonotary Warbler south
of Henderson and to explore the rest of the county. I was not disappointed in
any respect. I first stopped at Ney Nature Center just to the east of Henderson
on the Scott/Le Sueur County border where there were several Clay-colored
Sparrows singing. I then went to the oxbow lake that is just south of town at
6:00am and immediately heard the Prothonotary singing loudly with its 6
consecutive "sweets". Actually seeing the bird was a whole other issue. I
carefully scanned from a muddy bank for about 20 minutes while getting eaten
alive by mosquitoes and gnats but I finally got a good view of this state first
bird! The only other places I have seen them were in WI with a terrible view
and a great view in a Costa Rica mangrove. On the way to Rush River State
Wayside I found a nice Lark Sparrow from the dirt road. At the wayside I found
singing Eastern Towhees and Field Sparrows. I then headed west on 19 and found
Bobolinks in many locations. At the Winthrop sewer ponds were Brewer's
Blackbird, Redheads, Wood Ducks and a Ruddy Duck. On both the east and west
sides of Winthrop were Dickcissels. Further on 19 was a great pond that had a
Red-necked Grebe, several Gadwall, and Marsh Wrens as well as many
Yellow-headed Blackbirds on the north side of the road. The Gibbon sewage ponds
had Northern Shoveler, Redhead and Vesper Sparrows. On C.R. 10 to the northeast
of Gibbon was a flock of Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and
Bairds Sandpiper in a flooded field. I am unsure how rare the Baird's Sandpiper
are this time of year but I had fantastic extended views and checked many
guidebooks and am 90% sure of this ID. I later found more Redheads and Black
Tern at a marsh area and a Purple Martin in New Auburn.
Last Week I checked out Wadena, Cass and Hubbard counties but did not post
because I don't think I saw anything too unusual but here is a list of a few
birds I saw then:
Northern Parula- Hubbard co.
Blackpoll Warbler- Wadena co.
Wilson's Warbler- Wadena co.
Golden-winged Warbler- many locations
Common Tern- Leach Lake
American Woodcock- several displaying on CR 200 in Cass county at 3:45am
Wilson's Snipe- Winnowing at many locations
American Bittern- "pumping" in Cass co.
Eastern Towhee- Wadena co.
Brewer's Blackbird- Wadena co.
Western Meadowlark- Wadena co. I did not here it call and am basing this off of
the MOU occurrence likelihood (eastern vs. western)
Two "southern" birds seen were two Red-bellied Woodpeckers Wadena co. and Wild
Turkey in Wadena and Cass county's. I am unsure if these are unusual this far
north.
I was really hoping to see Prairie Chickens but searched several areas with no
luck.
Good Birding,
Jason Caddy
Minneapolis
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