This morning hundreds of shorebirds were taking advantage of mudflats and shallow water of the Crane Creek wetlands in western Carver County. Most were pectoral and least sandpipers, with good numbers of stilt sandpiper (about 20), greater and lesser yellowlegs, killdeer, a few semipalmated sandpipers, a couple solitary sandpipers and wilson's snipe, and at least one Baird's sandpiper. If the favorable habitat lasts it seems likely it will attract other species as well. Also present were several black terns in various stages of molt, bank swallows, and a singing alder flycatcher.
The best area was along the west side of Yale Avenue, just south of County Rd. 30, near the town of New Germany. Although there are more trees in the way, it might be worth checking the area from Yancy Avenue as well, especially in the evening when the sun would be behind you. There were also some shorebirds north of County Rd. 30. The section of County Rd. 33 south of Highway 7 is closed. -Karl Roe ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
