All the ugly weather we had recently seems to have had some benefits. Once the last big part of the migration started, it has been HUGE! Two days ago I went down to the Park Point Recreation Fields on Minnesota Point. The fields were flooded, and the shorebirds and gulls were happily eating drowned bugs. While the shorebirds don’t stick around as long during the spring migration compared to the fall, I get to enjoy seeing their breeding plumage! There is no reason for this birder to take a trip up to the Arctic tundra to see this bonanza, but I do need to stay “in tune” with what is happening locally. The window of viewing as noted is generally short in the spring.
Count the shorebird species in this one photo!
- Black-Bellied Plover
- Dunlins
- Ruddy Turnstones
- White-Rumped Sandpiper
Caspian Terns having an animated discussion
Ruddy Turnstones (and a Dunlin)
Dunlin
Black-Bellied Plover (and Ruddy Turnstones)
And two more images … an assortment
As a follow-up to yesterday’s post on birding safety and Google Location Sharing. Molly is out kayaking on Northstar Lake right now. I know exactly where she is located.
thanks so much for your wonderful variety and beautiful photography..only wish i could follow you around someday..its so helpful to know locations for these sightings..Sally Stout..Knife River…addicted birder since age 13!!
One of these days I hope to set up a “Birding with Rich” excursions. Right now I am so busy that it does not work with my schedule, but this idea is definitely on my radar.
We are staying north of Two Harbors right on Lake Superior. We think we have seen a horned grebe fishing quite close. A golden eartuft is visible. Do you think it possible?
Horned Grebes migrate through our region of Lake Superior. I see them quite regularly during the spring. Thus, your sighting makes lots of sense.