Chet Meyers writes: Miriam and I just returned from a 2-day trip to the Ortonville area. As reported by others, the snowy plovers were not found near the dam site where they fledged, but we did find some buff-breasted sandpipers there. I did not realize what a walk it was out to the snowy plover spot. It is great for shorebirds, but I'd say at least a 3/4 mile hike, sometimes through dense grass. Clark's grebe still at Thielke Lake. Miriam found a western kingbird near the intersection of CR62 and highway 75 just as you turn into the Thielke Lake area. Also, interesting, we found a FLOCK of orchard orioles on the Big Stone auto tour road... at least eight birds. Too big, I think, for one family group. Not much else to report. Vast majority of shroebirds-- pecs, least sandpipers, and lesser yellowlegs. Chet Meyers