Eastern Bluebirds have arrived in West Central MN, Pope county. A flock observed south of Lake Minnewaska and a pair north of Lake Minnewaska.
Also saw one Kildeer on my farm west of Lowry, an immature Bald Eagle south of Starbuck, one Mourning Dove in Glenwood and a flock of Longspurs west of Lowry. I also had a pair of American Tree Sparrows at my farm on March 8 and again on March 12. The lakes are fully frozen at this point, the only open water is in shallow runoff ponds in farm fields, ditches, and wetlands. They are attracting little to no waterfowl except "resident" geese and Mallards. Also on March 8, I observed a large flock of Snow Buntings in Pope County, estimate at more than 200. The interesting thing was that many birds were in nearly full breeding plumage, white and black, some still had faint brown markings. They were in a field - black soil, patches of snow, interspersed with last year's corn stalk debris. When the flock settled into the field, they literally "disappeared". It was such perfect camouflage, I couldn't help but marvel at it. Sid Stivland Plymouth ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
