Diane and I followed up on Craig Mandel's report of hearing Common Gallinules in Wabasha County at the Richard Dorer Pools along Hwy 74 (2 mi SW of Hwy 61 at blue sign with 14974). We arrived about noon today (Wed) and were quickly able to spot two adults and nine little babies in the open water area on the south of the dike just a few steps along the path. They all swam from the west side across the opening to the east side. We also spotted a Least Bittern fly over the opening (past the Gallinules) and then into the reeds on the west side of the opening. It also grunted a few times from the reeds.
Later we checked out Dedrick Benz's early July report of a Least Bittern along the Bartlett Lake Road on the south side of the Winona airport. We were checking the area near the culvert that is shortly after the turn toward the pier when the bittern and a Great Blue Heron flew from the water's edge (fairly close to the road) and toward the channel to the east. We didn't have any luck finding Craig's Alder Flycatcher south of the Whitewater WMA headquarters building in Winona County. Bob Ekblad Olmsted County in SE Minnesota http://www.Birding-Minnesota.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
