Here are some sightings we have had recently in Morrison County.
5-10-08 Many warblers are showing up along the rivers and ponds. Saw Connecticut, Mourning, Cerulean, Yellow, Yellow Rumped, Palm, Black and White, Tenessee, Nashville, Black-throat Green, Magnolia, Pine, Ovenbird, and Northern Waterthrush.Also saw many Swainson's Thrush with a good showing of Gray Cheeked along with Wood Thrush and Veery. Shorebirds are in the flooded fields and saw I a Willet along with 2 Wilson's Phalarops along County 47 east of Hwy 371. Also,saw a Piping Plover in Belle Prairie Park on the Mississippi River in a slow flow area. I havn't seen this bird since I was at the Zipple Bay area on the Canadian Border about 8 years ago.. Good time for Birding with a count of 147 species for the day.
4-28-08 Lake Alexandria: Carol Bigalke reported an Eastern Towhee at her feeder.
4-28-07 About 50 Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs South of the Swan River South of the Hwy 238-27 junction going to Bowlus. Also, first Broad Wing Hawk for the yearNorth of Coborns in Little Falls next to the Hwy Dept. Maintenance Building.
4-26-08 Crane Meadows: Large amount of waterfowl along Platte River going back to the Viewing Deck (Nice Spotting Scope has been added) on Rice Lake. East of the deck on the lake many, many birds. Many Herons and Cranes around. Warblers are showing up on site such as Yellow Rumped, Nashville, Orange Crowned and Palm. More will be added this coming weekend. Many Sparrows in Refuge with Savanna, Chipping, Song, White Throat, Swamp, Field, Lincoln's, and Fox sighted. Looking forward to LeConte's , Nelson's Sharp-tailed or Henslow's. Also, saw 1 Harris's Sparrow outside of Refuge. A few thrushes (Hermits) are around looking forward to finding Gray, Swainsons, Wood, and Veery soon. Some Raptors are in the region and will check out the Owls next Saturday. Trails are nice so go out and take a walk.
4-22-08 The large congregation of birds reported yesterday have moved North closer to the Hwy 10 bridge. The main group is in between the Islands to the South of the bridge with a large number to the North. Added today are many more Loons along with a few thousand Gulls. New bird for the year today was a Catbird.
4-21-08 North of the downtown bridge, in Little Falls,(for about 3 miles) that crosses the Mississippi there are many Canvasback, Redheads, Horned Grebes (Hundreds), Piedbilled Grebes, Wood Ducks, Ring Necked, Buffleheads, Ruddy's, all three Merganzers, Pintails, Cormorants, Pelicans, many Gulls, Gadwall, Widgeons, and Mallards, Sprinkled in are a few Eared Grebes (2), Loons, Geese, Herons, Egrets, Goldeneyes, Shovelers, Coots, and Blackducks. Around the Isles you will find Bluewinged and Greenwinged Teals. Always Eagles and Ospreys along with the occasional Red Shouldered hanging around. Tree Swallows and Martins are feeding out in the water and along shore lines. Largest concentration of water fowl I have seen in years. I will spend time looking for some of the rare stuff and will report as they come along. The majority of the ducks have moved from the ponds to the larger bodies of water. At Schoessling there are many migrant and nesting birds. We will check Lindbergh Park and the Nature Conservancy in a few days and give a report.
4-21-08 Crane Meadows has the same list as on 4-16-08.
4-16-08
Its a good time to see the waterfowl on Rice Lake at Crane Meadows. Reported are: Shovelers, Gadwall, American Widgeon, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Wood Duck, Mallard, Pied billed & Horned Grebe, Red heads, Canvasback, Green & Blue winged Teal, Common & Hooded Merganzer, Pelicans, Pintails, Coots, and Cormorants. Eagles are around trying to pick off the ducks. Kingfishers are present with assorted Sparrows, Phoebes, and Thrushes. Many blackbirds and Raptors are showing up. Woodcock and Wilson Snipe are in the area along with some shore birds. Cranes, Herons, and Geese are showing up in numbers.
3-30-08 Found Gadwall, Widgeon, Lesser-Greater Scaup, Ringneck, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganzer, Bufflehead, Common Merganzer, Canadian Geese, Ringbill and Herring Gulls, Shovelers, and a lot of Coots South of dam in Little Falls. 8 Eagles along shore by the Pow Wow Ground. Blue Herons are moving in around County and some Killdeers. Tried to find the Ross Goose reported South of Sartell but didn't locate. Sandhill Cranes are showing up by Crane Meadows and various spots in the County.
3-27-08 Going south on the Great River Road (Lindberg Drive) to Bowlus I saw a lot of Red Wing Blackbirds, 1 Rough Legged Hawk, many Red Tails, 3 Eagles, and 3 Harriers and a fair amount of Horned Larks. Also' came across some Buffleheads and Swans not far from the Pow Wow Grounds. The Mississippi South of the Little Falls Dam has Honkers, Hooded Merganzers, Mallards, Black Ducks, Trumpeters, Buffleheads, Goldeneyes, and Mallards. Many Kestrals throughout the area and I saw Red Shouldered Hawks at Pine Grove Park and Lindbergh Park. The birds are starting to move in.
3-16-08 Many Horned Larks on road edges throughout the County. One great find. Northern Mockingbird near Bowlus. Saw bird on a previous trip but could not get a positve I.D. This time we got some real good looks. Trumpeter Swans south of the dam in Little Falls in the open water.
3-15-08 Found Barred Owl in Pine Grove Park Zoo in Little Falls.
3-9-08 Found a group of Bald Eagles east of Crain Meadows on the road that extends beyond the minimum service road on the North end of the refuge. Drive off the refuge and go 1 and a half miles east look north of the chicken barn on the right.
2-24-08 Found a Northern Goshawk south of Little Falls on Old Hwy 10 heading to Randall across from Rudolphs Auto.
2-22-08 Barred Owl next to Hwy 26 going 1 mile out towards Long Prairie west of Little Falls.
1-1-08: Townsend Solitaire, Hoary Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak, Northern Goshawk, Lapland Longspur N.W Morrison- N.E. Todd Counties South of Phillbrook.
12-26-07: Black Duck ( Black Mallard) and Snow Goose at Mussers estate pond.
12-22-07: Bohemian Waxwing, Red Crossbill, near Oakland Cemetery, Little Falls. 2 Northern Goshawks at Eaureax Wildlife Mangement Area.
12-14-07 and 12-24-07: Longeared Owl west of Crane Meodows. Also, Great Horned Owls on North end and South end of Crane Meodows.
12-7-07: We came upon some Lapland Longspurs mixed in with Snow Buntings, and we found a Great Horned Owl and a Long Eared Owl, all near Crane Meadows Wildlife Preserve.
12-01-07: Bohemian Waxwings north of Blanchard Dam on the East side of Mississippi. Pine Grosbeaks between Bowlus and Little Falls.
11-29-07: Common Redpolls along the N.W. border of Morrison and Todd Counties near Motley.