June 15, 16, 17, 18, 2011
Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
Aitkin County
Field Trip Report
Enjoyed an extended birding trip, with a MRVAC group over the last few days.
Rain shortened, one of our days. But over all the weather was very good. As
noted in previous posts the insects are out in force. With lots of Wood Ticks
and Mosquito's. Here were some of the better birding areas: CR 64, North of
the town of Tamarack, the bog walk at Savanna Portage State Park, CR 5, the
snow mobile trail that runs South from CR 18 and Moose Willow WMA. Here are
some the birds we observed on the trip:
Trumpeter Swan
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Common Loon - One pair with young, plus many more pairs.
American Bittern - Best looks at Moose Willow WMA.
Yellow Rail - 6/15 - 6 or more birds heard, along the East side of Highway 65,
between 1/10th and 1/2 a mile South of Highway 210. The birds were first heard
around 10:30 pm and were still calling
when we departed at 12:00 am.
6/17 - No Rails were heard this morning, between 3:45 and 5:15
am.
Upland Sandpiper - Aitkin, airport - Two birds were easily observed with a
spotting scope on the East end of the runway. They were observed from CR 54,
East of the entrance to the airport.
Great Gray Owl
Olive-sided Flycatcher - Heard along the Snow mobile Trail.
Blue-headed Vireo
Black-billed Magpie - Three were observed, along CR 54, 1/2 mile West of
Highway 169.
Sedge Wren - For anyone looking for these, come to Aitkin County. We heard or
observed 100s of them, throughout the county.
Hermit Thrush
Warblers - 16 species were observed and one additional species was heard only.
Highlights were:
Golden-winged - Along CR 64.
Northern Parula - Savanna Portage State Park, bog walk trail.
Cape May - Snow Mobile Trail.
Yellow-rumped - Observed bring food to a nest, at Savanna Portages, bog walk
trail.
Black-throated Green
Blackburnian
Palm
Ovenbird - Heard throughout the county.
Northern Waterthrush - CR 64.
Mourning - CR 64.
Grasshopper Sparrow - CR 54, about 1.5 miles North of the Aitkin airport, along
a small East, West portion of CR 54.
LeConte's Sparrow - Only one bird was heard on the trip and it was heard and
seen along 420th St., about 1 mile East of Highway 210.
Nelson's Sparrow - Heard only, three or four birds on the 15th only. On both
the East and West side of Highway 65, South of Highway 210.
Bobolink - Many observed.
Purple Finch - Heard and seen in many locations.
Craig Mandel
Minnetonka, MN
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
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