Date: 4/23/25 3:35 pm From: Sue Keator <chickadeedee55...> Subject: Re: [mou-net] 30 Avocets + Ibis and Say's Phoebe, Big Stone NWR
Nice report!
On Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 4:24 PM Jason Frank <jmfrank84...> wrote:
> There's been a huge movement of shorebirds to Big Stone NWR in the past 24
> hours.
>
> From the viewing platform with the steel viewing scopes at the beginning of
> the Auto Tour route all the way over to the West Pool, you will notice that
> the cattails along the riverbank (looking south from the road) have been
> burnt off, revealing excellent mudflats. There are so many species showing
> up right now, it's almost easier to list what's NOT there! Upwards of 30
> Avocets were feeding just under the viewing platform today. A nice group of
> White-faced Ibis were feeding just a little bit east of the platform this
> morning.
>
> Between 10:00 and Noon I was able to ID the following species of note:
>
> American Avocet (largest group I've ever seen in MN)
> White faced Ibis
> Semipalmated Plover
> Greater Yellowlegs
> Lesser Yellowlegs
> Willet (at least 4)
> Long billed Dowitcher
> Marbled Godwit
> Hudsonian Godwit
> Wilson's Phalarope
> Least Sandpiper
> Pectoral Sandpiper
> Western Grebe
> Pied Billed Grebe
> Common Loon
>
> Lots of Gadwalls, Green-winged Teal, and Shovelers are there as well.
>
> The Egrets and Blue Herons just seemingly arrived in large numbers today,
> and there were Tree, Barn, Cliff, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows
> present.
>
> The Eagles on their nest along the Auto Tour exit route beside the river in
> the woods is occupied and the parents are actively feeding the chick. That
> stretch of the river is also a great place to see a family of beavers with
> several kits, as well as a family of river otters, if you check in the
> morning and evening.
>
> There's been a Say's Phoebe hanging out at the platform for the past 2
> days, and also by the first river bridge you cross on the Auto Tour. The
> "Odessa Birds" that nested along CR 21 near Bituminous Paving have also
> returned.
>
> Right now, I'd estimate over 1000 shorebirds poking around the river along
> the Auto Tour. This is BY FAR the most productive stretch of mudflat
> habitat in the Upper MN River Valley/Salt Lake region. I'd expect the
> Refuge to be the highlight of the Salt Lake Birding Weekend in 2 weeks.
>
> It's looking like we could get substantial rain out here Monday. That could
> result in an increase in shorebird habitat in fields and pastures, so the
> birds might be spreading out more by the first weekend in May. I haven't
> been to the Marsh Lake dam or the Emily Creek Drainage area on the west
> side of Lac qui Parle Lake (west of Milan), but those sites will be well
> worth checking for shorebirds. Same goes for the flats around the Watson
> Dam/Lac qui Parle Mission area.
>
> Salt Lake itself has a nice little stretch of mudflat in the NW corner
> which should especially be good for photographers, as it is only a few
> yards from the road.
>
> Not much standing water in the fields right now, but that could change if
> we get some rain later this week and next. Please be mindful of the fact
> that farmers are planting right now, and they have the right of way on dirt
> roads.
>
> For the past month, I've been seeing 2 very skittish Sharp-Tailed Grouse at
> Salt Lake. They've been in the NW parking area of the WMA (where there
> isn't a direct view of the water) and also on the western shore (actually
> in the SD WPA land). I've seen them on weekends, late morning around 10 or
> 11. There might be a small lek down there; it would be worth staking out
> during earlier morning hours.
>
>
> *Jason Frank*
>
> *Big Stone County Librarian*
>
> *Ortonville and Graceville, Minnesota*
>
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