While photographing this Red-headed Woodpecker, a second adult flew in and landed on the opposite side of the snag. In the midst of molting, another Merlin provided a few portrait photos near home. This was migrating Merlin sighting number 7 for August, many more than usual. Most Merlins make brief migration stops in this area during late September, so this could be a banner year for observations of the small falcons. Another mini-falcon, a male American Kestrel was 1 of 6 observed in the area last week. It was a special thrill to get back on the water in Minnesota lakes country, where Common Loons provided a number of interesting surprises. Aside from the loons, favorite of Andy’s was this Green Heron that provided a close look and photo opportunity without flinching as the pontoon stopped and passed by. Among the variety of ducks in my home range, Ruddy Ducks have been common, but only 2 broods were observed during July and August birding adventures.

The Labor Day holiday weekend often seems to be a peak period of raptor observations, as Swainson’s Hawks are still on territory with some fledglings still appearing, and Red-tailed Hawks on the move from their nesting territories, including recent fledglings, with the potential of finding other raptors too. So after a couple cloudy unsettled days, when the sun began to show breaks in the clouds Sunday afternoon I was excited for the chance to start a birding drive along my Raptor Route that circles east and northeast of my office. The rarer birds of prey turned out to be a Merlin, a male American Kestrel, and a recently fledged Northern Harrier, but the total count for the drive was 47 raptors!

That means the other 44 raptors were hawks, Buteos, numbering 32 Swainson’s Hawks and 12 Red-tailed Hawks. Indeed, this showed a marked increase from the previous raptor counts I did a week and 11 days earlier that numbered 24 and 25 earlier. The Merlin provided the best photo opportunities of all the birds, and it was the rarest and most exciting of Sunday’s raptors. The total of 47 raptors was actually higher than all but 6 of the 45 American raptor count site totals for August 31, as listed on HawkCount!

It's also interesting to point out that there were a few large flocks of Franklin’s Gulls feeding on the wing, as were 3 flocks of Tree Swallows, and Killdeer were similarly flocked along the road in several areas – probably concentrating on catching larger insects that land on the open road from surrounding thick vegetation.

I didn’t expect to see so many birds of prey during Monday afternoon’s birding drive south and southeast of home, so didn’t keep an accurate count of the many Red-tailed Hawks, but in hindsight there were at least 20 Red-tails, but only 3 Swainson’s Hawks and 1 Northern Harrier, along with groups of 3 and 2 American Kestrels. A highlight was having another chance to photograph a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers, of which I include one image here.

I haven’t shared much about the many ducks in the region lately, now that the nesting and brooding season is complete, but duckling production has certainly increased the total numbers species by species. This week I noticed that some drake Mallards are starting to molt into their more colorful plumage after flightless weeks in eclipse plumage. There have been large flocks of American Coots moving through the area, and a sprinkling of wading birds – mostly Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and Black-crowned Night Herons, but I also observed an American Bittern in flight. A sprinkling of shorebirds was on hand too, mostly yellowlegs, a few Pectoral Sandpipers, and an occasional Wilson’s Snipe; and I was interested to see a small group of gray-colored Long-billed Dowitchers in full basic plumage.

Minnesota Return

Earlier in the week, Thursday to be more exact, I connected with my friend Andy for an afternoon loon photo cruise. After being shorebound during my visit to loon country the previous week, I really wanted to follow through to try to photograph the young Common Loon we photographed about 7 weeks before, now fully molted into its first year plumage and likely a fledging now. We also wanted to check on older broods we have been monitoring on the larger Pelican Lake; a good idea, but there was more in store for us during our enjoyable time on the water. To get the full story, please refer to my Bird Photography feature in this issue that is illustrated with a variety of loon photographs.

In all, we observed 13 Common Loons, a large brood of 11 fledged Common Mergansers that all looked like copies of the adult female by now, a few Belted Kingfishers, the same broods of Trumpeter Swans that I observed the previous week plus an adult pair, an adult Bald Eagle, 2 Green Herons, and a bonus Osprey as we pulled up to Andy’s dock. I also found evidence of a Downy Woodpecker in Andy’s yard – a molted primary feather near the dock, and a secondary feather closer to his house. It’s always great fun to spend time in the realm of the loons!

Starting last week with no mo Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Saturday afternoon I was happy to see a female visit my nectar feeder repeatedly – hooray! Sunday and Monday too; but by Tuesday (yesterday) my feeder was without a visitor – boo. But such are the ways of fall migration – here today, gone tomorrow. Although no rain fell in my yard during a pop-up thunderstorm Friday afternoon, 5 Cedar Waxwings and 2 American Robins perched at the top of a nearby tree as if to wait for a break in light rain in surrounding areas before continuing their migration.

As we begin September, I must reflect that it has been a remarkable summer of birding, starting as spring migration was winding down and ending as fall migration is gearing up. Bird photography has been especially rewarding, and as the meteorological fall season begins, birding is going to become all the more exciting. Enjoy all the birding time you can fit into your schedule, and think about a fall birding destination to look forward to visiting – it’s that time of the year.

Article and Photos by Paul Konrad

Share your bird sightings and photographs at editorstbw2@gmail.com