99 species this week in the area (including a Saturday morning visit to Cliff Fen & Ft. Snelling in the cities):
* Eight flycatchers, including a Western Kingbird on Sherburne CR 8, about 1/2 mile south of CR 10 (regular in the area there) * Bell's Vireo, Cliff Fen (heard only) * Eleven warblers, including the Chat at Cliff Fen & Prothonotary at Ft. Snelling - songs beginning to diminish in the refuge - Mourning, Golden-winged and Blue-winged still easy finds on Blue Hill Trail * Eleven sparrows, including the Henslow's on Sherburne CR 70 * Seven blackbirds, including an Orchard Oriole on Sherburne NWR's Prairie Wildlife Tour (parking lot near entrance) and Western Meadowlarks on Sherburne CR 8 and the Wildlife Tour this morning (latter not consistently heard) * Semipalmated Sandpiper at Sherburne CR 2, couldn't tell whether he/she was faced north or south - so either late or early - more white on the face & neck then used to seeing - otherwise classic * Golden-crowned Kinglets on Blue Hill Trail (conifer section). Misses include: Northern Harrier & American Kestrel - Sora & Virginia Rail - both Cuckoos (have gone quiet) - Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Belted Kingfisher (numbers way down this year in the area) - Red-headed Woodpecker (have only seen in the refuge/area twice this spring). Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
