Lake Elmo Park - Snowshoe

Working Lake Elmo Park’s blue trail (one of the few non-ski trails in the winter) last night I took the snow shoes out just to keep getting used to them. Probably a bit of overkill considering the lack of true snow pack and the trodden nature of the blue trail in winter. The park was devoid of much avian activity. I had 1 Hairy Woodpecker run me down and squeak a bit to let me know someone was awake. Later I saw a solo American Crow fly across the skyline no doubt heading for night time roosting location. The bright light on the evening (besides a nice after work trek) was a lone Northern Shrike standing atop a tree a few hundred yards away from me. Having finally learned what I need to be paying attention to when looking for Shrike I have had much better luck the last couple years spotting them.

 

I found 1 while walking with Melissa late in 2014 at Oakdale Park and now found this one at Lake Elmo Park. I was able to saunter closer by cutting across the camping and prairie area (the only decent workout of my snow shoes) getting to about 75 yards and seeing most of the good field marks much better. The bird then flew off and I kept it in my binocs for as long as possible to watch the flight path and wing beat. I noted it to be a multiple fast pump with a pause and then repeat.

 

Again, little else showed on the night, but it was good to add another 2015 year bird and move to 38.

 

Looking forward to a big birding trip Friday and Saturday as I will drive up to Duluth to try and track down the Common Eider that has setup show for a while now. Additionally I’ll be looking at a pretty long list of birds to add to the year and life list.

 

1.       Common Eider

2.       Raven

3.       Northern Pintail

4.       Pine Siskin

5.       Common Redpoll

6.       Red Crossbill

7.       Gray Jay

8.       Great Gray Owl

9.       Purple Finch

10.   Evening Grosbeak

11.   Northern Hawk Owl

12.   Thayers Gull

13.   Glaucous Gull

14.   Greater Black Backed Gull

15.   Boreal Chickadee

16.   Ruffed Grouse

17.   Sharp Tailed Grouse

18.   Snow Bunting

19.   Red-Breasted Nuthatch

20.   Black-backed Woodpecker

21.   Bohemian Waxwing

 

Those are just some of the birds considering several other more rare birds would be welcome as well. Looking forward to it a lot and hoping for the best.

 

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