Hey birders,

I spent the day with John Hockema and Dave Bartkey birding around the “Mankato area”.  4 geese (no Ross’s), 2 swans, and 18 ducks (no American Black Duck or Greater Scaup).  Opportunities were best in Blue Earth County (particularly Perch Lake/Cobb River WPAs and vicinity and Watonwan WPA.  We also had pretty good luck with waterfowl west of Nicollet in a flooded field along Hwy 14 and in the Courtland Central unit of the Swan Lake Complex.  Flooding of the Cottonwood River northwest of Lake Hanska was the best location in Brown County.

Other highlights from the day: Belted Kingfisher, Fox Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Western and Eastern Meadowlarks, and Rusty Blackbird.

Happy birding!

Chad Heins

Associate Professor of Biology

Bethany Lutheran College

700 Luther Drive

Mankato, MN 56001

Office: 507.344.7327  | Toll Free: 800.944.3066

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