The Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive at Sherburne NWR opened today, nearly a month earlier than is usual - mostly due to a dry winter and good road conditions. I didn't get there until mid afternoon, not optimum birding time. I only saw FIVE species of birds the whole loop! A personal "worst" - which of course means it will only continue to get better with future visits, which I look forward to as a "retired" federal employee. No more hurrying, because I need to get back to the office! Loved my job, but love retirement more. In case you were wondering.
The marshes are 90% ice-covered. It was very quiet. Seen were: Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Sandhill Crane, Bald Eagle and Northern Shrike. Other sites around the refuge where water was open, I did find Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Harrier, American Crow, Wilson's Snipe, Mallard and Hooded Merganser. I spent a good share of the afternoon in Benton County, as I did yesterday, and saw MANY American Kestrels(15), and quite a few Northern Shrikes (7) today, that weren't present yesterday. I traveled many of the same roads both days. Betsy Beneke St. Cloud, Benton County ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
