Sparky heads back to western Minnesota with his kayak in hopes of duplicating his success at Salt Lake last June. But strong winds and gray skies make Day One challenging to say the least! But he finds the rare but continuing Black-necked Stilt at Lac Qui Parle County’s Hantho WMA along with dozens of Hudsonian Godwits!

A quick drive along the unexpectedly burned Big Stone NWR Auto Loop turns up a wary flock of American Golden-Plovers and a couple Black-bellied Plovers.

Day Two dawns clear and calm so Sparky races to Salt Lake to launch his kayak. Winds are already increasing and high water has covered last year’s fruitful sandspit. But one sandy point remains and it yields a flock of Franklin’s Gulls, one Forster’s Tern and a smattering of shorebirds. An “offshore” Marbled Godwit also poses.

And as usual, the shorebirds pay little attention to the human in the red boat pulled up on “their” shore. A Sanderling bathes just feet away…A lone Ruddy Turnstone walks past me several times.

A grand total of EIGHTEEN species of shorebirds were seen (and most photographed) even though this wasn’t the goal of the trip.

It’s always good to get back out to the prairie…and western Minnesota’s Felton Prairie is always a nice escape from the North Woods. Just a few of my favorites from this mid May trip to Clay and Norman Counties. Enjoy! (pssst…We’re off to Florida…I’ll post photos when I get back)
Marbled Godwit…a very large and raucous shorebird that makes its home on medium-grass prairies.

Brewer’s Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Upland Sandpiper

Northern Shoveler

Marbled Godwit

Marbled Godwit

Western Meadowlark. Great to hear their melodious song since we get the less melodious Eastern Meadowlark near Wrenshall.

Northern Harrier

Yellow Warbler

Swamp Sparrow

Lark Sparrow a bit further north, near Agassiz Dunes SNA in Norman County

Sedge Wren

Sedge Wren

Bank Swallow Colony in an old gravel pit…This colony has made this cut its home for many years.