Last weekend over 100 birders from around the state searched the lakes, wetlands, woods and prairies of Lac Qui Parle, Big Stone and Yellow Medicine counties finding 126 species of birds. On Saturday temperatures in the upper 70’s, high winds and low numbers of shorebirds resulted in lots of miles being driven for 117 species, a lower total than in recent years. The best birds found were two American Avocet, one White-faced Ibis and one Willet at Meidd Lake in Yellow Medicine (thanks to Garrett Wee), a Great-tailed Grackle and a Ferruginous Hawk found by Steve Broste and The Mattsons. On Friday the only Broad-winged Hawk was seen. Luckily an influx of migrating birds on Sunday added eight to make a weekend total 126. Lincoln’s Sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow and a single late Pine Siskin were found at Prairie Marsh Farm, the latter being unique in my records for the Salt Lake Bird count. Bart Anderson added a Chestnut-collared Longspur in Big Stone County. Later as the winds died down we found a flock of 300 shorebirds at Salt Lake including Pectoral and Least Sandpiper, 21 Long-billed Dowitcher, 200 Lesser and 20 Greater Yellowlegs and 5 Willet, also adding Franklin’s Gull.
All the birders involved extend thanks to the City of Marietta and the American Legion Womens Auxilary for breakfast and lunch and to the City of Madison and the Sons of Norway for dinner. Any one wishing a complete list can email me directly or soon find at http://moumn.org/saltlake/ <http://moumn.org/saltlake/> . Ken Larson ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
