101 species seen/heard in central MN over the week (won't see those kind of numbers again until the spring!):
* Black-bellied Plover, Sherburne CR 3 & 23 intersection (larger farmer's pond) * American Golden Plover (probable, seen briefly & heard), Benton CR 25 (between Foley & MN 95); seven shorebird species total for week * 12 warblers (but diminished to Yellow-rumped only by end of week); four vireos (again diminished by end of week) * 10 waterfowl (slowly increasing numbers), nine Trumpeter Swans * 10 sparrow species including possible Henslow's * AW Pelicans all over the refuge (flocks of 30+); Winter Wrens actively moving through * Blackbirds massing (counted 615 Red-wingeds in four flocks on the Auto Tour without really trying). Learned that I haven't mastered the art of large owl rump identification, missed 2-3 flyaways this week in the early morning light. Duluth boat trip & Wisconsin Point WSO trip tomorrow - may the weather not turn dramatically worse! Ah, jaegers, gulls, phalaropes, pipits.... Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
