Over the past week I have checked out some of my favorite water bird locations … from the Twin Cities Metro … to Central Minnesota … to Northeast Minnesota. I have described each location’s habitat and access method. All are easy birding excursions. I will work from South to North in terms of geography.

Three Ponds Park in Plymouth, Minnesota (Google Maps Link)

Visit this location VERY early in the morning. There will be less “human activity” and birds will be more easily seen (i.e. closer up). Try walking the earthen trails, not just the paved trails. Whenever you reach “an opening”, inch forward into a viewing location. You are less likely to scare birds.

Green Herons

Sherburne Wildlife Drive (Google Maps Link)

These wetlands are located not too far NW of the Twin Cities northwestern suburbs … about a 45 minute drive in “non rush hour” traffic from Plymouth’s French Park. Once again, visit early in the morning. You will be driving a 7 mile “one way” dirt road. Later in the morning there can be lots of birders, and the birds themselves will have finished their early morning feed.

Pied Grebe

Lester River Ravine in Duluth (Google Maps Link)

You will be turning off Superior Steet onto 61st Avenue East … a dead end road that only runs for a short distance to a very small park area near the mouth of the river on Lake Superior. From this parking you may also access the LakeWalk highway tunnel to reach Brighton Beach, but for our purposes … within 30 yards of your parking spot are overlooks looking out over the river and into the ravine plus stairs which allow you to safely climb down to the river where you will find short hiking trails. Belted Kingfishers nest every year in the cliffs opposite the bank where the shores descend. A pair of beavers hang out but are only seen at night, and depending upon the time of year one may see fish eating ducks.

Belted Kingfisher