9/11, 12, 13, 14, 2013 While leading a trip for the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter, our group observed some of the following species during the trip. A few of the species were observed by participants prior to and after the trip. We spent time birding in Mower, Dodge, Steele and Freeborn counties. Here are some of the species we observed: Greater White-fronted Goose - Observed by Rick Specht- Freeborn county - 9/11 - CR 26, 1/4 mile South of CR 35. We were unable to relocate this bird on the 12th. Wild Turkey - Mower county Western Grebe - First observed by Rick Specht on 9/11 and also relocated by the group on 9/12 - Freeborn county - 6 birds were observed on the North end of Geneva Lake, along 800th Avenue. Virginia Rail - Freeborn county Sora - Freeborn county Black-bellied Plover - Steele county - A single Black-bellied Plover was observed from the boat ramp at Rice Lake State Park on the morning of the 14th. American Golden Plover - 9/11 & 9/12 - Freeborn county - These birds were observed at the previously posted location along CR 46, at the North East end of Albert Lea Lake. We were also able to relocate the American Golden Plovers previously reported along NE 84th Avenue. We observed about a dozen of them on the West side of the road, around 12:30 pm on the 13th. Note that many were difficult to see as they were lying on the ground in the grass. Semipalmated Plover - Freeborn county Sanderling - 9/11 - Freeborn county - There was a single Sanderling observed by Rick Specht at the location along CR 26. Other shorebirds observed at various locations, were Spotted, Solitary, Semipalmated, Least, Baird's, Pectoral and Stilt Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher and American Woodcock. Eurasian Collared-Dove - Mower & Dodge counties Eastern Screech Owl - 9/13 - Mower county - Schwerin Creek WMA, Located in the Northwest corner of the intersection of 210th Street and 660th Avenue. Great Horned Owl - Freeborn county - Observed at a campground West of Austin, by Floor Kooyman Barred Owl - Freeborn county - Heard at the same campground as the Great Horned Owl, Mower county - Several were heard at the Hormel Nature center. Common Nighthawk Chimney Swift Yellow-throated, Blue-headed, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo - With at least 10 Philadelphia Vireo's observed at various locations in Mower, Dodge and Steele counties. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 9/12 - Mower county - Adams community park Swainson's Thrush Wood-Warbler's Ovenbird, Black-and-white, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Palm and Yellow-rumped. These Warblers were observed in various locations throughout the 4 counties, with Black-and White, American Redstart, Northern Parula and Magnolia Warblers observed in the largest numbers. Chipping Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Yellow-headed Blackbird Purple Finch - 9/13 - Dodge county - A single immature bird was observed in the NW corner of the intersection of CR G & CR1. Craig Mandel Minnetonka, Hennepin County [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
