Begin forwarded message: > From: Laura Coble <shearwate...@frontiernet.net> > Date: September 12, 2010 6:58:10 PM CDT > To: mnb...@lists.mnbird.net > Subject: Swainson's Hawk, Goodhue Cty > > Today I went to Dakota Cty Spring Lake Park, visiting both the lower park and > Schaar's Bluff for migrants. It was an exceptionally beautiful day for a > bird hike, though I saw very few new warblers or other migrants. I met up > briefly with Jim Mattson, who spotted a Common Nighthawk as we were talking. > I enjoyed seeing other nighthawks off and on, flying among the gulls high > overhead, throughout the early afternoon. I also saw large flocks of > American White Pelicans, always fun and lovely to watch, flying in the > thermal updrafts. > > About 3 pm, I returned to Cannon Falls on Dakota Cty 85. After turning east > on Dakota Hwy 86, I entered Goodhue Cty as the highway turns southeast, and > I spotted a raptor on the SE side of the road, flying in a slight "V". It > was light underneath, with dark flight feathers. I turned around, and went > back to watch an adult Swainson's Hawk for about 10 minutes, hunting in a > relatively small field, even though the field was being mowed. There is a > "Land For Sale" sign posted, and this area is part of the Cannon Falls > industrial park. > > At first I was amazed that the large field mower didn't bother the bird a > bit, but when I got home, I found a video on YouTube that showed a Swainson's > Hawk doing exactly the same thing, probably to take advantage of whatever > prey is found in the newly-mown grass. The hawk flew and floated in the > wind, back and forth, occasionally hovering above the field, and I had great > looks at it. It finally flew south, and out of sight. > > This is the second Swainson's Hawk I've seen in MN. The other one was > originally spotted by Jim Otto in early June on Wild Turkey Rd., which is > also in Goodhue Cty on one of my breeding bird blocks. The hawk was seen > again a month later by me (a life bird at that time), and several days later > by Diana Doyle and Susan Plankis. I recently returned from Colorado and > western NE, where I had seen many Swainson's Hawks, but I didn't expect to > see another one so soon--especially in my "back yard"! > > Laura Coble > > > > >
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