Since last Tuesday, there has been an increase in the number of shorebirds on the west side of Lake Byllesby, although the species count is very low. Many shorebirds were a long distance away. Yesterday and today the number of Long-billed Dowitchers increased from 5 to 15, and there were larger flocks of Pectoral Sandpipers and both yellowlegs today. The number of mud flats and sandbars are increasing, as well.
Late this afternoon, I found one American Golden Plover, still in breeding plumage. It had a very dark cap and bright white plumage on its flanks up to its dark crown. Also yesterday, in late afternoon: Two other birders pointed out an enormous flock of gulls much farther out on the lake, plus some waterfowl, including an American Widgeon and a good number of N. Shovelers, “shoveling” up and down the narrow waterways between the mud flats or sandbars. Laura Coble Cannon Falls ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
