103 species this week between Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties - from Mille Lacs Lake south to Sherburne NWR (primarily morning walks & drives before work). Highlights included:
* Pelicans in both counties - in the lake on the west side of 169 along Vineland Road (south of the town of Vineland) & also Orreck Lake in Sherburne Refuge - none seen on Auto Tour. * Red-shouldered Hawk in Pioneer Park, Princeton. * Eight species of shorebirds (nothing terribly unusual, one Baird's and couple of White-rumpeds in Sherburne County) - still a little slow * Seven species of woodpeckers * Willow Flycatcher in Mille Lacs County (Kunkel WMA, which is admittedly just north of Sherburne County). Does anyone else experience the "Now was that Free Beer/Fitzbew or Whe-bew" syndrome? Some are easy to call, but others.... * Possible Philadelphia Vireo, Sherburne Refuge (the refuge lists it as a nester, the MOU website doesn't expect to have them in the county, causing me to second guess my quick visual ID) * Thousands of swallows (primarily Tree with substantial numbers of Purple Martins) along Mille Lacs Lake - power lines near Eddy's Restaurant on 35 are packed * Eight species of warblers, including the previously reported Hooded and a couple of early Nashvilles. Black-and-Whites are numerous at Kathio. * Little touch of winter at Kathio's Interpretive Center - Purple Finches, Red-breasted Nuthatch, last week had a Siskin. Am contemplating where to take my son tomorrow morning - any suggestions on areas relatively near central MN that have a few interesting birds? Still learning this most interesting state. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN
