8/26 -8/29 - 2015
While birding in North Central Minnesota with Mark Junghans and Ron Erpelding
the last few days. We encountered a few species of note. Here are a few of my
favorites from the trip.
8/26
Mille Lacs county
Eurasian Collared-Dove - A Eurasian Collared-Dove was observed along
Maya (aka Anxiety Dog) and I birded portions of Mille Lacs County this
morning. We did find a Hoary Redpoll on 35 (west side of ML Lake, about three
miles north of Eddy's, feeder complex next to mobile home). We also found Pine
Grosbeaks along 19 in the WMA, about one mile north of the DNR
Circumnavigated Mille Lacs Lake, hoping for scoters or winter gulls.
Nope.
Did leave with Pine Grosbeaks White-winged Crossbills, certainly worthwhile.
Bays have begun to freeze, don't imagine lake will make it to December.
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
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We were up across the road from the east side of Lake Mille Lacs, doing some
repairs to our fish house, when I saw a shadow go over, so I looked up, and
watched 3 beautiful adult Bald Eagles go over at about 50 ft; Could hear the
wind in their wings and they called just as they flew by. Wow.
16 warblers present at Father Hennepin Kathio State Parks this morning, as
well as a Philadelphia Vireo. Except for C. Yellowthroats, no more than 4-5
present of any one species, no waves.
Ovenbird
Golden-winged
Black-and-White
Tennessee
Nashville
Mourning
Common Yellowthroat
American
103 species
17 warblers (no waves)
7 thrushes (Gray-cheeked, Swainson's, Wood, Hermit all in Kathio State Park)
Only four shorebirds
Mille Lacs County, from Kunkel WMA, north to Kathio the lake.
Day one of birding vacation, home county.
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Sent from my iPhone
Checked Mille Lacs Lake (west side), Lake Onamia environs this morning. 52
species, 13 ducks, only bird of note was a week early Bonaparte's at the
Garrison pull off (north median date 4/13). Only a few loons, no grebes to
speak of.
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
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Fox Song Sparrows have arrived in southern Mille Lacs County (Kunkel WMA).
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Sent from my iPhone
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Covered Mille Lacs Lake from the southwestern corner to Wealthwood - hundreds
of goldeneyes mergansers, but no sign of last week's scoters or long-tailed.
One loon left. Lake was smooth as glass, outstanding views.
Also checked Aitkin CR 1/380th (and beyond) for snowies without success. 0
I spent the day driving the perimeter of Mille Lacs Lake, looking for odd
ducks, but didn't find any - well - except for a guy named Elliott who insisted
on pumping my gas for me at Garrison. I left him in the dust when he said he
didn't own a pair of binoculars.
I found large rafts of
On Mille Lacs Lake this morning;
* White-winged Scoter, Pacific Loon (only Nate had ID looks, I saw back of
head), Chimney Swift home pulloff, just north of Eddy's, west side of lake
* White-winged Black Scoters, first Wealthwood pulloff, few miles east of 169.
Good mix of ducks at the
Just a reminder for all of those signed up for the MOU Mille Lacs trip on
Saturday 8/27:
Meet at 7:15-7:30 in the Kathio State Park parking lot just past headquarters.
You will need a state sticker.
The trip will officially end around noon - I have an afternoon wedding.
We will focus on
Suffering from warbler deprivation, headed into northern Mille Lacs County this
morning.
With Kathio still closed (didn't they work that budget out), drove the lake
front, around Kathio, Wieland Road and the northern WMA.
Only found nine species of warbler, but good looks at a Canada along
Mark Junghans just called me to post shorebirds on Mille Lacs Lake in Garrison
at the rock wall. The following were seen, 8 Willets, 6 Ruddy Turnstones, and 6
Sanderlings.
Jim Otto
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Saturday in northern Mille Lacs County:
* ~30 Bohemian Waxwings, west side of Mille Lacs Lake, 7 tenths of a mile
south of the highway 35/169 intersection, just south of the reservation
* Small flocks of Common Redpolls and, surprisingly, GC Kinglets on Touch
the Earth Trail, Kathio State
Spent the morning in northern Mille Lacs County (lake, Vineland Road,
Kathio) yesterday.
Nothing outstanding, but first of fall Horned Grebe - White-crowned
Sparrow - Junco.
Seven warblers, seven sparrows in the changing of the guard; sad that
Yellow-rumpeds and Palms predominated.
Good
Birded Kathio State Park, short portion of the western Mille Lacs lakefront,
and Kunkel WMA yesterday; today stopped at Blue Hill Trail in Sherburne NWR
briefly.
A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was the highlight yesterday, front edge of Touch
the Earth trail in Kathio (near the Interpretive
On Thanksgiving Day, I thought I would start early and work my way up from
Mill Lacs Lake through Aitkin to Grand Rapids for family, football and
food. Although I saw lots of common mergansers, common goldeneyes, bald
eagles, Bonaparte's gulls, ring-billed gulls and a few northern tree
sparrows
19 warblers in Hennepin Kathio State Parks - nice to see multiple waves
throughout the morning (7:30 to 12:00).
Of course, do you think I could find the 20th (like Yellow, or
Orange-crowned, or Canada, or Red-faced...?)
Good birding to all!
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs
20 warblers (among 91 species) this week in Mille Lacs Sherburne Counties
(refuge, however, has been quite quiet). Best areas have been Father
Hennepin State Park and Milace Hiking Trails. List:
* Golden-winged
* Tennessee
* Nashville
* Northern Parula
* Chestnut-sided
* Magnolia
*
14 warblers in Hennepin (best) and Kathio (average) state parks yesterday
morning. Good to finally find a wave (admittedly, not a large one).
Mille Lacs lakefront (west side) was very quiet.
Good birding to all!
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs Sherburne Counties
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Our annual MOU Mille Lacs trip is coming up on Saturday, October 17th at
7:30 AM.
Typically we spend the majority of our time along the western lakefront - we
may also venture over to Kathio State Park (sticker required) or check the
northern Aitkin portion of the lake. This trip is known
18 warblers in Mille Lacs County yesterday, including a personal first
county Hooded Warbler at Milaca Hiking Trails. Strongest passerine action
was at Kathio State Park (the woods were alive with the sound of
music).
Ruddy Turnstones on Wigwam Bay, Mille Lacs Lake as well.
93 species
Mille Lacs County new arrivals (not all mine):
* 3/26, Western Meadowlark, Fox Sparrow
* 3/25, Cackling Goose, Redhead and Canvasback
* 3/24, Woodcock Snipe
Lesser Black-backed at Princeton Sewage Ponds has not been seen since
Tuesday. Nate has noticed a couple of small flocks of Snow
Mille Lacs migrants: Red-winged Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes, Killdeer, Snow
Geese (yesterday and today).
Eastern Meadowlarks in Sherburne Refuge this morning (as well as most of
above).
The heart sings.
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs Sherburne Counties
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Despite the (mid-level?) intensity of this winter, some unusual birds are
being seen in this north/south MN boundary zone: Horned Larks (small
flocks, not just individuals), Lapland Longspurs (few sprinkled in),
Sharp-Shinned Hawks (two separate sightings), flocks of Robins (up to 40) -
while
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