There were several interesting sightings during the October 18-19-20 Minn Birding Weekend in Cottonwood and Jackson Co's (and en route to and from the MBW). As already reported to mou-net, we had a Mute Swan Oct 17 in Nicollet Co, 4 mi N of Nicollet (first seen N of here along Hwy 22 in Sibley Co on Oct 13 and again Oct 20); a Surf Scoter Oct 18 at the Mountain Lake sewage ponds, Cottonwood Co (still present Oct 20); and a Sprague's Pipit Oct 18 at Rock Ridge Prairie SNA, Cottonwood Co (and relocated there Oct 19).
In addition, the following birds were also of note: - Gr White-fronted Goose: 2 on Oct 19 at Illinois L, Jackson Co - 9 shorebird species: including both yellowlegs, Least, Baird's and Pectoral sandpipers, and Long-billed Dowitchers on Oct 19 at Plum L, Jackson Co; Long-billed Dowitchers also Oct 18 at Rat Lake WMA, Cottonwood Co - Barn Swallow: Oct 19 in Jackson Co - Le Conte's Sparrow: 3 on Oct 18 at Wolf Lake WPA, Cottonwood Co - Common Grackle: conservative estimate of 60,000 migrants in 10 minutes on Oct 20 along the Des Moines River near Kilen Woods State Park, Jackson Co - Great-tailed Grackle: 3 on Oct 19 along Hwy 86, Jackson Co, 3 mi N of Iowa border Kim R Eckert [email protected] http://www.mbwbirds.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
