Hi all, Another great day in NW MN. The highlight being 7 WHITE-FACED IBIS at the Parnell Impoundment in Polk County. Pictures below. The impoundment is open to the public, but is walk-in access only. The best walk-in access atm is at the gate located on 240th Ave just north of Polk County 17. You will then have to walk right (south) for a few hundred yards and then east for just over a mile. Closer walk in access is at 230th Ave and Polk County 17, but you will have to cross at least one flooded ditch to get up on the impoundment. If you do that you will be just a few hundred yards west of where the Ibis were seen. GPS Coords: 47.916733 -096.53351 This is a small pond and flooded field next to a gated canal. There is a small spur in the impoundment road here that heads north. The ibis were seen feeding in the field at 2:30 and roosting at the pond at 6:30 when I left. All seven were White-faced, but one is a "drab adult" and might appear to be a Glossy at first. Hopefully they will stick around for the weekend. If the county list is up to date, this is the 2nd or 3rd record for the county. http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/209 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/208 On the full resolution version the white faces can be seen, selecting "slideshow" and then pause will make the photos a little bigger.
Directions: From Crookston head north on US-75 to Polk County 17. Turn right (East). In just over 2 miles you will hit 240th Ave. Turn left (north) and park at the red gate to walk-in or continue on Polk 17 one more mile to 230th Ave. In both cases, once you get onto the top of the berm you will need to head East until you reach a short, northward spur of the road that crosses the north ditch. Other birds of note seen today: BOHEMIAN WAXWING 1 Marshall County (Downtown Warren) http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/210 SNOW BUNTING 1 Polk County PEREGRINE FALCON 1 Polk County (Parnell Impoundment) SNOWY EGRET 1 Marshall County (Continues in 210th Street ditch w/ Great Egrets) Feel free to call me this weekend if you are going for either the Snowy Egret or White-faced Ibis. 404 316 8609 Bill Blackburn Minnesota Audubon Warren, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html