Just got back from the Lake Byllesby area (birded between 400-515), and it was PACKED with waterfowl, mostly on the lake itself, but also on ag fields just north of it (best viewing location was on Cty. Rd. 86 just east of its' intersection with Hwy. 56). 10,000 individuals between all species present in the area - mostly Canada Geese and Mallards, but still impressive. Here are some of the other species that were present, along with estimates of their numbers:
Greater White-fronted Geese- @250 on reservoir, @100 on ag fields. Cackling Geese - 3 (likely more, but I didn't have time to really scan) "White" Geese - @50 individuals present total, of which at least 30 were Ross' Geese. Surprising! All on the ag fields. Gadwall - 100 Northern Pintail - 20 Northern Shoveler - 20 American Wigeon - 35 Green-winged Teal - 30 Blue-winged Teal - 1 Common Merganser - 10 Hooded Merganser - 5 Lesser Scaup - 100-125 Ring-necked Duck - 50 Great Blue Heron - 1 (flew across lake) Ring-billed Gull - 15 Bald Eagle - 20 (kept the waterfowl on the lake nervous) Killdeer - 1 (mudflats on lake) Horned Lark - 2 (ag fields) Also saw a nice dark phase Rough-legged Hawk on Blaine Ave., about halfway between its' intersections w/Hwy. 50 and Hwy. 47. Andy Forbes, Dakota Co. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
