I snuck in some opportunistic birding while traveling to and from SE Minnesota for other reasons this week.
- On Tuesday 8/9, the pair of Blue Grosbeaks was still present with the male singing in the often-reported location in Dakota County. I also visited the Jirik sod farm, but found only Killdeer and Horned Larks present. - On Wednesday 8/10, I found a Louisiana Waterthrush along the Root River Trail about a mile east of Fountain just past where the trail takes a sharp right and dips down into the woods. Also, that morning I heard and saw a Eurasian Collared-Dove along main street in Fountain. I am not sure if this species has been seen regularly in Fillmore County or not. - On Thursday 8/11, I relocated the Eurasian Collared-Dove in Vermillion (Dakota County) at the farm supply on the east end of Main Street. - Also on Thursday, I spotted a Red-headed Woodpecker along CR 12 in Isanti County, about a mile (I wasn't watching the odometer) north of CR 9. I could not relocate the Common Gallinules at Sherburne NWR, despite 2 hours of early morning scoping on Tuesday. -- Shawn Conrad www.itascacnfbirding.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
