Birded Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties yesterday (eight hours, with four hour weather break), had 104 species. It's easy to forget what a great nesting area central/northern MN actually is. No rarities, but a brief report follows:
* Six waterfowl, somehow missed Trumpeters & Ring-necked Ducks * Four raptors, including Broad-winged - missed Red-shouldered * Six shorebirds, including Wilson's Phalarope at CR2 ponds * Six gulls & terns, including a Forster's (nice white chest) at Garrison - did not refind the Franklins that have been there over the last month * Six woodpeckers, missed Red-headed * Five flycatchers, missed Alder & Willow * Five swallows, missed Northern Rough-winged * Nine warblers, missed Blue-winged, Blackburnian, Yellow-rumped - latter two at Kathio, heavens opened up just before their nesting area * Nine sparrows, including Lark - missed Savannah * Seven blackbirds, including a Western Meadowlark in Mille Lacs County Consistent day, nothing spectacular. Happy to share details if desired. A few bugs were present. I would speculate that an intense (14-16 hour) run from Sherburne Refuge to Aitkin CR 18 would net 130-135 species (tempting....). Also had three new butterfly species, not surprising since I just started Tuesday:) Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher
