Took four vacation days to target needed birds and enjoy different environs in Minnesota, traveled Wednesday through Saturday (latter on the MOU trip). 181 species seen and heard, including 29 year and five state birds. Highlights included:
* 24 warbler species. Highlights were Kentucky (Williams Nature Center), Black-throated Blue (Wood Lake & Stoney Point, north of Duluth), Louisiana Waterthrush (Minneopa), four Hooded and three Cerulean (Murphy Hanrahan). Also interesting were the misses: Orange-crowned, Northern Waterthrush, Connecticut, Bay-breasted and Blackpoll (latter three have not been personally seen or heard all spring). * 23 shorebird species. Enjoyed 13 Hudsonian Godwits, 4-6 Marbled Godwits and 12 American Avocets in Lac Qui Parle, Big Stone and adjoining counties; Ruddy Turnstones (Purgatory Creek & Mille Lacs Lake) and Sanderlings (also lakefront), Red-necked & Wilson's Phalaropes (Lac Qui Parle). Missed Solitary Sandpiper all week; had no shorebirds in Duluth, Two Harbors and along 61. * 15 waterfowl, nothing unusual. * Five grebes - thought the mix of two Eared, one Western and one Red-necked was unique on Park Point. Nice but distant looks at the Clark's on Thielke (Big Stone). * Nine hawks - far & away the highlight was the Ferruginous in Big Stone Refuge. * Eight flycatchers, only the Olive-sided (Sherburne NWR) was of interest. Missed Western Kingbird in Lac Qui Parle & Big Stone, Acadian in Murphy Hanrahan. * Four vireos, including Philadelphia at Murphy. * 12 sparrows, including Lark at Sherburne NWR. * 10 blackbirds - the Bobolinks, Yellow-headed and Western Meadowlarks are incredibly numerous in Lac Qui Parle and Big Stone. * Probable Neotropic Cormorant at Diamond Lake. Not questioning the posting, rather, my own abilities to discern. Happy to share locations on any specific birds or species. However, Bill Unzen may be a better source for the western portion of the trip. Thanks to Mark Junghans, Bill Unzen, Nathan and all those who helped or accompanied. Back to "reality". Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
