Between 11 am and 2 pm today, my wife and I observed a Swainson's Hawk low and directly overhead at the intersection of 284th and MN 56 in Dakota County heading south [this is the Randolf Industrial Park site]. In the little marsh in the NW quadrant of that intersection was heard a Virginia Rail and in the marsh behind the church in the SW quadrant of that intersection was heard a Sora Rail. Driving to the first intersection on 284th [four-way stop sign] and going left and circling around back to that intersection, were found several singing Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows, a Clay-colored was heard, and a Song Sparrow seen/heard; also, a pair of Horned Larks, many Dickcissels and many Western Meadow Larks (ID by voice only) and one Eastern Meadow Lark heard. The birds were very actively defending their territories by song from any little perch, often only a few feet from our car. It was a beautiful day on the prairie with full sun. Thanks Steve Weston for directions and posting all the nice activity at this site.
Bill Bronn/Margaret Little ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
