In response to the interest in finding Dickcissels in more counties, I headed over to Goose Lake IBA this evening after surveying the Parnell Impoundment (Polk). Even though the areas are only a few miles apart and Dickcissels are all over Parnell, none were located in either the Red Lake or Pennington County sections of Goose Lake IBA. I did, however confirm breeding (BBA Criteria) for the following species:
Parnell Impoundment (Polk): Clay-Colored Sparrow Nest with 4 eggs: http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/171 Bobolink Both sexes seen bringing food to same area repeatedly. Nest not found Killdeer Broken-wing display Mallard http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/172 Goose Lake IBA Red Lake Section: Marsh Wren Adult seen carrying food, begging young heard, nest not found Black Tern Dive Bombing (2), Adults carrying food repeatedly (5+) http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/168 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/167 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/166 Is this a county first? I do not see Black Tern listed as a confirmed nester for Red Lake County: http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/countychecklist.pl?county=Red%20Lake A minimum of 5 adults were seen repeatedly headed south into the county interior and returning to the Goose Lake area with food. All the adults disappeared into the cat tails on the Red Lake County side of the road. "The road" being listed under a very confusing 5 different names in under 2 miles on Google maps. Polk CR 19/140th St Sw to the east of Pembina Trail SW/ Red Lake CR 3. GPS locations were N47 57.539' W096 27.003' (carrying food) and N47 57.807' W096 27.217' (Dive bombing). I also had a very agitated pair of Virginia Rails along the road. I am assuming they are nesting along the road edge. Both adults were calling aggressively whenever I stepped off the gravel. The following pictures were taken from the top of my car with the bird less than 10 feet from the road. This was also on the Red Lake County side. http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/170 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/169 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
