August 9, 10, 11, 2009

Led a field trip to Jackson county for the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter over the last three days.  Here are a few of the species observed by the group;

August 10,
Gray Partridge - 7:30 pm - CR 16, 1/4 mile East of CR 17.  2 adult birds and 2 immature birds were observed.
American Bittern - 7:45 pm - CR 16, 1/4 mile West of 530th Ave, on the North side of the road.
Upland Sandpiper - 6:30 pm - A single bird was observed in a mowed field in the NW corner of the intersection of CR 30 & CR 79 (500th Ave.), There were also 75+ Killdeer observed at this location.
Franklin's Gull - 8:00 - 8:20 pm - 1000+, observed in flight at the city of Jackson Sewage ponds, which are located along 550th Ave, a 1/4 mile S of CR 14.  
Great-tailed Grackle - 2:00 pm - NE corner of the intersection of CR 86 & 730th Ave. - One adult male and one Female or immature bird was observed in the cow pasture in the NE corner of this intersection.

August 11,
Upland Sandpiper - 7:00 am - Still present at the same location as noted on the 10th.
Eurasian Collared-Dove - 10:00 AM - 7 birds were observed along Berry road (910th Street), about 1/4 mile East of CR 9.  Five of these were heard and observed in Conifers in the Lakeside Cemetery.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 8:00 am - CR 30, 1/4 mile East of CR 17.

Also of interest were the 1000's of Barn, Bank, Tree and Cliff Swallow observed throughout the county, on power lines and in flight over fields of Corn and Soy Bean's.

We also made two unsuccessful try's for the Black-headed Gull along CR 2 on the North end of Spirit Lake on the 10th.  First at 10:30 am and then again at 3:30 pm.