Six participants and I found about 80 species of birds on Sunday on MRVAC's annual Dakota County Prairie Birds field trip. Most of the sparrows and other grassland birds were found. Notable birds:
Wilson's Phalarope pair at 180th Street Olive-sided Flycatcher (3 - all in usual habitat: dead trees) Dickcissels (2 on CR42 by Schaar's Bluff & 7 at Randolf Industrial Park) Lark Sparrow (pair mating on Michael Ave south of Hastings) ruby-throated Hummingbird on nest at Schaar's Bluff Yellow-billed Cuckoos (3 at Schaar's Bluff) Willow Flycatcher calling Great-creasted Flycatchers - many birds at many locations Scarlet Tanager Brewer's Blackbird 8 species of sparrows mystery all black raptor later, back at home, a Barred Owl flew about 5 feet over my head and landed in a tree about 40 feet away, and sat there about ten minutes while I worked in the yard. It was a beautiful day to be out. Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN sweston2 at comcast.net
