3/22/2013 Returned from a trip to Rock and Pipestone counties. As previously
mentioned, the lakes are frozen, there is little to no snow cover and many of
the stream beds are dry. But I did find a number of migrant waterfowl and a
few Blackbirds. I checked the lake in Worthington and found a mix of Ducks and
Geese, in the open water. In Rock county the Quarry ponds just NE of Luverne,
were good. With close to 1000 Greater White-fronted Geese there on the 21st.
Plus there was a good mix of Ducks. Another interesting spot was along CR 51,
just North of 221 st street. There were over 1000 Geese there on both the 22nd
and 23rd. They were mainly Canada Geese, but today there were a few Cackling
Geese and 3 Snow Geese mixed in the flock. In Pipestone county, just North
of Split Rock Creek State Park. There was a large flock of Canada Geese, with
a couple Cackling Geese mixed in. In Lincoln county, there was an aerator on
Lake Benton at the county park on the North side of the lake. There were 100s
of Greater White-fronted Geese, Canada Geese and a few Cackling Geese, plus a
mix of Ducks in the open water and sitting on the ice. Here are a few of the
species observed: Greater White-fronted Geese - Nobles, Rock, Pipestone and
Lincoln Snow Geese - RockRoss's Geese - Lincoln - Three Ross's Geese were
observed in a low flying flock of Greater White-fronted Geese, just south of
Lake Benton. There flocks of Geese in flight through out the morning,
today.Cackling Geese - Nobles, Rock, Pipestone and LincolnDucks - Rock county -
I observed 16 species of Ducks at the Quarry ponds, with a different mix on
each of my visits. Thursday morning was the best, day. But I added
Blue-winged Teal and Canvasback there today.Rough-legged Hawks - Rock and
Pipestone counties. Northern Flicker - RockAmerican Kestrel - Nobles, Rock,
Pipestone and Lincoln - I observed a total of about 40 American Kestrels over
the 3 days.Merlin - Pipestone County - One was observed at the Woodstock WMA on
the 22nd.Harris's Sparrow - Rock county - One was observed near Blue Mounds
State park.Rusty Blackbird - Rock County - observed in a large flock of
Blackbirds, near Ash Creek.Common Redpoll - Rock and Pipestone County - These
were observed at feeding stations in both counties, with around a dozen at each
location. Craig [email protected], Hennepin County
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