This is a report on the Salt Lake Festival, probably Minnesota's oldest birding festival. There were fifty or more people participating. An exact number is unavailable as some participated only in some of the events and others were only out on the roads and paths birding. Thanks to the people of Marietta and the Sons (and perhaps more important: the daughters) of Norway (and Madison) for their hospitality. Also thanks to Goody Larson, Ken & Mary Lou for hosting a bunch of us at the farm.
Weather was incredible with mostly clear skies. The nights were for the most part comfortable in the tent. This year we were not buried like last year. We only had a minor sprinkle on Saturday afternoon. The stars were brillant and the frog chorus was awesome. A total of 120 species of birds were tallied on Saturday, not counting the recently introduced Prairie Chickens, which were found by several people. No exciting reportable birds were found, although on the day before a Eurasian Collard Dove was found in Appleton and a Piping Plover was found near Ortonville. None of the participants were aware of the Plover. Some of the highlights: Ring-necked Pheasants were everywhere. By the end of the weekend there were less. Some of the participants experienced why there were so many Northern Harriers when one took down a Pheasant. An American Bittern was exceptional cooperative, freezing in close. American Pipit doing its thing approximately 30 feet from a crowd. Good looks at several shorebirds, most notably Bairds and Dunlin. The only Harris Sparrows were observed from less than 20 feet at Goody's farm before we even got to breakfast. Afternoon conditions interfered with extracting a Clarks from the dancing Western Grebes on Thelke Lake. Both Eared and Horned Grebes were difficult to find. Salt Lake was not a disappointment with the best waterfowl and shorebirds. Many birders missed the Ross' and White-fronted Geese mixed with the Snow Geese. Few warblers were found. Only a handfull of birders found Yellow-rumps, but Bill Unzen, a local birder still in high school from Bellingham was able to find four species. The only Northern Cardinal was found before going in for breakfast in Marietta. The birder was so unimpressed, he didn't even write it down. Other birds of note included Hermit Thrush, Le Contes Sparrow, Merlin, and Lark Sparrow. Join us next year! Steve Weston on Quigley Lake in Eagan swest...@attbi.com On Sunday, many continued. New arrivals on Sunday included Wilsons Phalarope, Franklin Gulls, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee,
