On Saturday I participated in the Bioblitz at Carpenter Nature Center in Washington County. Best birds included a calling Common Loon on the St. Croix and Red-breasted Nuthatch. I haven't finished ID'ing all the neat plants and insects I found, but the neatest plant so far was a colony of walking ferns.
Today (Sunday) I led a small group of birders on a field trip, Dakota County Prairie Birds, sponsored by MRVAC . The day was windy and cool, but the birding was great starting with raptors gathering over Schaar's Bluff. Interesting birds included Scarlet Tanagers at Schaar's Bluff, Orchard Orioles, Grasshopper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Lark Sparrow, Olive-sided Flycatcher at Spring Lake Park Archery Range, and Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Duck at 180th Street Marsh. The prairie restoration at the Archery Range was in an awesome bloom of Lupine, Penstemon, Culver Root, Vetch and much more. I was disappointed to find that Empire Township has apparently decided to permanently close 190th Street, which allows birders and others to reach the 190th Street natural area south of Whitetail Park. It was well worth the walk in, but I may have cashed out the energy I was hoping to use tonight. Steve Weston On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN [email protected] <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
