On Friday had 56 Sharp-tailed Grouse in Aitkin County, including 36 (in
flight) along 480th Street, south of Palisade (others were in the typical
locations north and south of Tamarack).
Nathan & I (separately) had: Townsend's Solitaire, Long-Eared Owl (calling
at dusk), numerous Ravens, Black-backed Woodpecker and White-winged
Crossbills at Ann Lake and Sherburne NWR/Blue Hill Trail late last week.
Nathan also had a unique looking female Goldeneye (for example, totally
yellow bill) at Monticello on Friday afternoon.
We were shut down Saturday from our Sax-Zim trip by weather reports (that
turned out to be off by a frustrating 5-8 hours).
Good birding to all!
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties