At Rachel Lilly Preserve (south side of hwy 110, between Delaware and Dodd Avenues, Mendota Heights), an intrepid band of birders braved the threatening weather to enjoy the varied habitat and birds. Here's what we saw and/or heard:
Bald Eagle, immature Cooper's Hawk Great Blue Heron Great Egret Double-crested Cormorant Mallard Canada Goose Great-crested Flycatcher Ovenbird American Redstart Common Yellowthroat Eastern Kingbird Baltimore Oriole Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Black-capped Chickadee Red-bellied Woodpecker (the following were heard only): Eastern Phoebe Eastern Wood Pewee Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Yellow Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak Eastern Bluebird House Wren Blue Jay Northern Cardinal Downy or Hairy Woodpecker Due to the oncoming rains, we forfeited the small east field, and the two paths that cut perpendicularly across the larger, west field. We made it to the cars by 8:30...ALMOST ahead of the downpour---but everyone seemed to agree it's a place well worth visiting. This was only a handful of the various species I've enjoyed there over the years. Kudos to Dodge Nature Center for their stewardship of this property! Linda Whyte ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
