Yesterday I was joined by 15 hardy birders, many of whom braved rainy weather in the cities and an unpromising weather report to bird the trails of Hok-si-lah and Frontenac. Despite the cool start, conditions were comfortable and the birding at times slow was rewarding. Trails were for the most part snow free and snow depth was about an inch when present. Water height was more of a problem with one trail under water at Hok-si-lah. Sand Point was not accessible and we did were turned away even before the boardwalk was visible.
We found about 76 species at Hok-si-lah and three stops in Frontenac including nine or ten warblers and seven sparrows. The highlight find was a beautiful and cooperative LeConte's Sparrow, thanks to Brad's persistence. First of the year birds for me included: Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Flycatcher, No. Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, House Wren, B.G. Gnatcatcher, Ovenbird, No. Waterthrush, Black & White Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Palm Warbler, Clay-colored Sparrow, and LeConte's Sparrow. Other birds of note included: a Merlin chasing much larger Pigeons, great looks at Horned Grebes, 3 Sandhill Cranes flying up the river, Bonaparte's Gulls, Forster's Terns, Solitary Sandpiper, Tufted Titmouse by the cemetery in Frontenac, and Pine Siskins. I heard a probable Prothonotary Warbler at the entrance to Hok-si-lah, but did not trust my rusty ear and could not get a response later. I added four more species in Goodhue Co. on the ride home and another eight at 180th Street Marsh, including Virginia Rail, Horned Grebe, and a Red-tailed Hawk on nest. Chorus and Leopard frogs are calling. I will have to get out to my frog and toad survey route this week. In my yard this morning I had Pine Siskins. I am thinking that they may stay around to breed this year in southern Minnesota. I had 17 eggs in one of my wood duck boxes a couple of days ago. We have a Red-tailed Fox that is foraging our yard. I haven't smelled it, so I suspect that it may be a female. Steve Weston On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN [email protected] ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
