Bob Janssen and I just finished our 3 day shorebird workshop in western MN and eastern SD.
13 species of "expected" sparrows with the most remarkable being 35+ LeConte's Sparrows in one single location. Our group had them within 6 feet (I measured the distance!!) at one point. The birds seemed happy to stay perched in full view on the top of sweet clover stems. We left after about an hour and the LeConte's were still there. Friday the wind blew 55+ miles per hour and made it hard for both man and bird, but Saturday more than made up for that. In addition to the LeConte's Sparrows we found a kettle of soaring Swainson's Hawks that were counted at over 200 with a few Turkey Vultures and one lone Golden Eagle mixed in. Unfortunately for the MN listers this happened just over the border into SD, but it was a great birding experience none the less. Doug Buri Milbank, SD www.itctel.com/buri/SPARROW ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
