I returned from a two day trip to the cities late Saturday night to find that spring had finally arrived in the Northwoods. A trip up to the paddies north of Clearbrook in Clearwater county on Sunday netted 85 species including 20 species of waterfowl. There is still some snow and ice on the paddies and they have not started flooding the fields - but a few spots held enough melt water to accommodate a respectable number of anxious ducks, geese and swans. A single flock of what I believe where Forester's Tern coursed over the distant reaches of open water. Hawks were plentiful and a beautiful Swainson's was a highlight. Male N. Harrier's were performing aerial breeding displays. Pied-billed, Horned and Western Grebe were also present. Sparrows made an excellent showing including incredible numbers of Fox and Junco. (There were probable several hundred Fox here at the Bagley farm alone!) White-crowned, White-throated, Savannah, Tree, Swamp, Lincoln's and Song. One Yr Warbler, a few Gc Kinglet, Brown Creeper and a Loggerhead Shrike. Blackbirds were found scouring the stubble in dry paddy fields in large numbers and included Red-winged, Yellow-headed, Brewers, Grackle, Cowbird, and Meadowlark. A few covey of Sharp-tailed Grouse, a pair of Marbled Godwit, a smattering of G and L Yellowlegs and a single Wilson's Snipe were found. Sandhill Cranes provided a wonderful musical score throughout the afternoon. Notable misses were Phoebe and Bluebird. A Phoebe is singing in the yard this morning, so he must have arrived overnight.
Kelly Larson & Carl Newman Northern Flights Farm Clearwater County Bagley, Minnesota Eschew Obfuscation! The middle of Nowhere is Somewhere! ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
