Mower - Freeborn - Faribault - Martin MBW Summary
October 11 - 12 - 13 - 14, 2019
At least it was clear and almost wind-free on Monday – it’s just unfortunate we couldn’t bird on into the nice afternoon as Your Spineless, Wishy-washy Tour Leaders had to get back to Duluth. Of course, we could have used some of Monday’s weather during the previous three days when things were downright miserable. Cold west winds in the 20+ mph range combined with “high” temperatures only in the mid-30s to low 40s plus steady snow showers on Saturday made it nearly impossible to bird unless we could find places sheltered from the wind. Still, we managed to come up with a composite total of 115 species during this MBW’s 3 1/2 days, although many of these were only seen by a few of us as birds would often emerge just briefly into view before diving back into cover and out of the cold and wind. This was especially evident on Friday in Mower Co when even the sharpest-eyed among us could personally claim to have seen around 50 or so of the day’s 72 species.
Our day in Mower started along trails at Hormel Nature Center that were somewhat out of the wind and provided us with the day’s best woods birding. A Winter Wren was uncharacteristically visible, a cold Hermit Thrush sat still on what must have been a warm perch for a few minutes for all to see, and there were 6 mostly uncooperative warbler species (including late Tennessee, Nashville, and Chestnut-sided) along with Blue-headed Vireo. Later at Lake Louise State Park we added a 7th warbler (late Black-throated Green) but only a few of us managed brief views. This day ended with the lowest species total of the four, mostly due to this county’s relative absence of wetlands, but at least the Lyle sewage ponds certainly came through for us with 2 Ross’s Geese, along with a few Cackling Geese and our best assortment of ducks.
Saturday in Freeborn Co began with those persistent cold winds still with us, and things got even worse when wind-blown snow showers began at mid-morning and continued into the afternoon. Because it became difficult to see much, we retreated for an early and long lunch break after trying to scan Albert Lea Lake which at least held a single flock of 830 swimming Franklin’s Gulls. Our two main afternoon stops were at Arrowhead Point County Park (where we walked through wet leaves and snow in search of woods birds) and at Geneva Lake (where a group of 4 Sandhill Cranes flew by in the distance).
The forecast on Sunday for our day in Faribault Co had been for moderating winds and a few degrees warmer (all the way up to the mid-40s), but of course that never really happened and it was again still too cold and windy. But this eventually became the best day of the four, starting with Steinberg Nature Park in Blue Earth and its nice mix of woods birds and sparrows – we even met the city councilor who was instrumental in creating and managing the park. From there, we headed east along old U.S. Highway 16 where we found some wetlands just west of Walnut Lake WMA, one of our best areas of the MBW. There we found at least 170 Greater White-fronted Geese with a few Snows among them, 6 shorebird species right next to the road (including a group of Long-billed Dowitchers, Least and Pectoral sandpipers, and both yellowlegs), plus American Pipits and a lone Brewer’s Blackbird. The Wells sewage ponds were a bit disappointing, but the east side of Minnesota Lake was especially impressive with a quite unexpected group of 13 American Avocets braving the winds next to shore by the park in town – our 7th shorebird of the day and the 8th during the MBW.
After 3 days of battling the weather, we were finally treated to pleasant conditions on Monday in Martin Co. Unfortunately, we only had time for a half day’s birding, but we did well at Cedar Park in Fairmont where there was almost non-stop bird activity along the park’s main trail. Here everyone saw an unexpected Red-breasted Nuthatch, and a few in our group had a brief view of a late Magnolia Warbler (our 8th warbler species of the MBW). There was then time for heavily wooded Timberlane County Park just south of Fairmont, where there was lots of activity which included another late Black-throated Green Warbler, and some heard a Pileated Woodpecker (a difficult bird to find in this part of the state).
Bird List
• Mow = seen in Mower Co, Oct 11 (72 species)
• Free = seen in Freeborn Co, Oct 12 (81 species)
• Farib = seen in Faribault Co, Oct 13 (86 species)
• Mart = seen in Martin Co, Oct 14 (73 species)
Snow Goose Farib
Ross’s Goose Mow
Greater White-fronted Goose Farib
Cackling Goose Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Canada Goose Mow
Wood Duck Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Blue-winged Teal Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Northern Shoveler Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Gadwall Mow, Free, Farib
American Wigeon Mow, Free, Farib
Mallard Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Northern Pintail Free, Farib
Green-winged Teal Mow, Free, Farib
Canvasback Free, Farib
Redhead Free, Farib
Ring-necked Duck Free, Farib
Lesser Scaup Free, Farib
Bufflehead Free, Farib, Mart
Hooded Merganser Mart
Ruddy Duck Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Ring-necked Pheasant Free
Wild Turkey Mow, Free, Mart
Pied-billed Grebe Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Rock Pigeon Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Eurasian Collared-Dove Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Mourning Dove Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
American Coot Free, Farib
Sandhill Crane Free
American Avocet Farib
Killdeer Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Least Sandpiper Farib, Mart
Pectoral Sandpiper Farib
Long-billed Dowitcher Farib
Spotted Sandpiper Mow
Lesser Yellowlegs Farib
Greater Yellowlegs Farib
Franklin’s Gull Free, Farib, Mart
Ring-billed Gull Free, Farib, Mart
Double-crested Cormorant Free, Farib, Mart
American White Pelican Free, Farib, Mart
Great Blue Heron Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Great Egret Free
Turkey Vulture Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Osprey Farib
Northern Harrier Free, Farib, Mart
Sharp-shinned Hawk Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Cooper’s Hawk Mow, Free
Bald Eagle Mow, Free, Farib
Red-tailed Hawk Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Great Horned Owl Farib
Belted Kingfisher Free, Mart
Red-bellied Woodpecker Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Mow, Mart
Downy Woodpecker Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Hairy Woodpecker Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Northern Flicker Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Pileated Woodpecker Mart
American Kestrel Free, Farib, Mart
Merlin Free, Farib, Mart
Eastern Phoebe Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Blue-headed Vireo Mow, Farib
Blue Jay Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
American Crow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Horned Lark Mow, Free, Farib
Tree Swallow Mow, Free
Barn Swallow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Black-capped Chickadee Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Red-breasted Nuthatch Mart
White-breasted Nuthatch Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Brown Creeper Mow, Farib, Mart
House Wren Farib
Winter Wren Mow
Golden-crowned Kinglet Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Eastern Bluebird Mow, Free
Hermit Thrush Mow, Mart
American Robin Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Gray Catbird Farib
European Starling Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Cedar Waxwing Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
House Sparrow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
American Pipit Farib
House Finch Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Pine Siskin Farib, Mart
American Goldfinch Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Lapland Longspur Free
Chipping Sparrow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Clay-colored Sparrow Mow
Field Sparrow Free, Farib, Mart
Fox Sparrow Farib, Mart
American Tree Sparrow Mart
Dark-eyed Junco Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
White-crowned Sparrow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Harris’s Sparrow Mow, Farib, Mart
White-throated Sparrow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Vesper Sparrow Mow, Free, Mart
Savannah Sparrow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Song Sparrow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Lincoln’s Sparrow Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Swamp Sparrow Mow, Free
towhee, sp. Free
meadowlark, sp. Mow, Farib
Red-winged Blackbird Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Brown-headed Cowbird Free, Farib, Mart
Brewer’s Blackbird Farib
Common Grackle Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Tennessee Warbler Mow, Free
Orange-crowned Warbler Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Nashville Warbler Mow, Free, Mart
Magnolia Warbler Mart
Chestnut-sided Warbler Mow
Palm Warbler Mow, Free, Mart
Yellow-rumped Warbler Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
Black-throated Green Warbler Mow, Mart
Northern Cardinal Mow, Free, Farib, Mart
* * *
Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Mower MBWeekend
April 27 - 28 - 29 30, 2023
Summary by Craig Mandel (plus edits by KRE)
This four-county, four-day MBW offered us some of the best birding and some of the worst weather. Strong SW winds on Thursday in Martin followed by rain on Friday in Faribault brought in and grounded lots of migrants, including some unusual species. It was too windy again on Sunday, the winds colder this time and out of the north, but the overall species total after four days came out to a respectable 122.
Martin County
On our first day of birding we were able to cover most of the eastern portion of Martin, but the strong winds made searching for waterbirds difficult at times, and our 81 species for the day was disappointing. There were very few migrants, with only two warbler species: a couple of Orange-crowneds and a few Yellow-rumpeds. Sparrow numbers were also low, with only five species observed. With little to no shorebird habitat, it was no surprise that we could only find some yellowlegs, a few snipe, and a couple of Least Sandpipers.
Faribault County
We were able to turn up some interesting species in the rain today, with some late Snow and Greater White-fronted geese and a nice mix of shorebirds – i.e., 14 species, including Hudsonian Godwit, White-rumped Sandpiper, and a few dozen Willets. Other birds of special note were the Cattle Egret along a freeway exit ramp and a small, distant flock of Smith’s Longspurs – both of these spotted by Kathrynne! This county clearly produced more birds than the other three, and our group total of 101 species actually tied the April Big Day record for this county. Certainly, this was partly due to the assistance of Wayne Feder, this county’s resident birding expert, who was able to join us.
Freeborn County
Our 80 species observed in this county was about as expected, considering that we spent almost no time in the woods, and that we took the time to drive up to the Twin Cities to see a first-state-record Swainson’s Warbler found that morning! This was a sought-after life bird for some MBWers, as well as species #370 for the all-time MBWeekends list. (Otherwise, the day’s highlights included the only Red-breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe, and Eastern Towhee during these four days.)
Mower County
With another half a day of birding in Mower county, we again had a few fun species, including Greater White-fronted Geese, Virginia Rails & Soras, and Brewers Blackbirds – all found during 20+ mph NW winds (and gusts to 40 mph). After our half day in the county, we headed up to Rice County for another unusual stake-out – a Eurasian Wigeon. We successfully found it mixed in with a flock of Amercan Wigeons, and this represented yet another addition to the MBWeekend composite list, now standing at 371 species.
Bird List
* Mart = Martin Co., April 27 (81 species)
* Farib = Faribault Co., April 28 (101 species)
* Free = Freeborn Co., April 29 ( 80 species)
* Mow = Mower Co., April 30 (73 species)
* species not annotated = seen in all 4 counties
Snow Goose Farib
Greater White-fronted Goose Mart, Farib, Mow
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon Rice County stake-out
American Wigeon Farib, Rice
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback Free, Mow, Rice
Redhead Mart, Farib
Ring-necked Duck Mart, Farib, Free
Lesser Scaup Mart, Farib, Free
Bufflehead Mart, Farib, Free
Common Goldeneye Free
Hooded Merganser Farib, Free
Common Merganser Mart, Free, Mow
Red-breasted Merganser Free
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey Farib, Free, Mow
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe Free
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Virgina Rail
Sora
American Coot
Sandhill Crane Farib, Mow
Killdeer
Semipalmated Plover Farib
Hudsonian Godwit Farib
Dunlin Farib
Least Sandpiper Mart, Farib
White-rumped Sandpiper Farib
Pectoral Sandpiper Farib
Semipalmated Sandpiper Farib
Long-billed Dowitcher Farib
Wilson’s Snipe Mart, Farib, Mow
Spotted Sandpiper Farib, Mow
Lesser Yellowlegs
Willet Farib
Greater Yellowlegs
Bonaparte’s Gull Farib, Free
Franklin’s Gull Farib
Ring-billed Gull Mart, Farib, Free
Forster’s Tern Farib, Free
Common Loon Mart, Farib, Free
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican Mart, Farib, Free
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret Mart, Farib, Free
Cattle Egret Farib
Turkey Vulture
Osprey Mart, Mow
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk Mart, Free, Mow
Cooper’s Hawk Mart, Free
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk Mart, Free
Red-tailed Hawk
Barred Owl Mart
Belted Kingfisher Mart, Farib, Free
Red-headed Woodpecker Mart, Farib, Mow
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Mart
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker Mart, Farib
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker Mart, Farib
American Kestrel Mart, Free, Mow
Merlin Mart
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Purple Matin Mart, Free
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow Mart, Farib
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet Mow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Farib
House Wren Mow
Brown Thrasher Farib, Free, Mow
European Starling
Eastern Bluebird Farib
Hermit Thrush Farib
American Robin
House Sparrow
American Pipit Mow
House Finch
American Goldfinch Mart, Farib
Lapland Longspur Farib, Mow
Smith’s Longspur Farib
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow Farib
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow Farib, Free, Mow
Savannah Sparrow Mart, Farib, Free
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow Farib, Free, Mow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee Free
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark Farib, Free
Western Meadowlark Farib
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer’s Blackbird Mow
Common Grackle
Swainson’s Warbler Hennepin Co. stake-out
Orange-crowned Warbler Mart, Farib, Mow
Palm Warbler Farib, Mow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
The summary of the late April 2023 MBW follows the summary
of the mid-October 2019 MBW. The species potential of these
should be similar to the late September MBW in 2025.
___________