On April 4, had 40 species and 18 new species for the year, including 3+ singing Eastern Bluebird, several Red-breasted Nuthatch, plus calling Sandhill Crane at Boot Lake Scientific and Natural Area in Anoka County. Since the entrance roads to Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area were blocked (for good reason), I hiked 8+ miles round trip from the shop area (accessed from Anoka County Rt. 18 by turning north for 1 mile on Zodiac and parking) walking east to and around Pool 9, not seeing another person other than right by the parked car, and was rewarded with the following new species, mostly on or near Pool 9: 3 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Trumpeter Swan, 330 Tundra Swan (300 in one flock flying about 50 feet directly overhead and calling), six species of dabbling ducks (five new), 100+ Ring-necked Duck, excellent views of 8+ pairs of Sandhill Crane--including lots of crane tracks on the lesser used sand roads because of no vehicle traffic on them, 20+ Am. Coot, 3 Eastern Phoebe, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, and 1 Fox Sparrow. Best of all was the silence--virtually no noise from either vehicle traffic or airplanes, like being in far northern Minnesota without the long drive.
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