A Townsend's Solitaire was present at his/her classic Ann Lake location this morning (believe this is now five years of the past six). A Northern Shrike and Purple Finches were also present (winter is here?) Ann Lake/Sand Dunes Park is about two miles south of Sherburne Refuge on Highway 5. Take 169 north to CR 9, 9 west through the refuge to CR5, then 5 south a couple of miles to the second CR 4 exit. Instead of proceeding west, turn east on the access road towards the campground. There is a dirt parking lot on the south side a little over a mile in, park there and start scanning the treetops to the right/west. Sometimes one has to walk into those fields a bit to find the bird. This (slightly southern MN) location is excellent in early winter (generally into or through December) for northern/western birds - solitaires (1-2), goshawks, shrikes, Bohemian Waxwings, winter finches. Good birding to all! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html