Unofficial Yellow Medicine MBW Summary
April 11-13, 2025
– by John Quinn, JTL Wannabe
Prequel...Thursday April 10: I birded Sibley County on my way out to Granite Falls. I did achieve light green status on MOUMN.org. But please, I am not defined as a county lister.
Friday April 11
Kim and Craig had planned the day perfectly. Then we walked outside. Navigating our way through the fog to the “World's Oldest Rock” (2), we performed introductions. Kim worked diligently to learn everyone’s name. Some sisters created a problem. Thankfully, they turned out to be good birders blessed with a good sense of humor. A critical criterion for an MBW participant. It’s always great to have new people join the group. However, any aspirations for JTL (Junior Tour Leader) status will be met with a fierce defense.
Attendees: Jane, Krys, Joel, Mariann, Steve, Janet, Sam, Rick, Mae, Jess, Judy, Mark, John, Matt, Jean, Sarah, Sharon, Marge, Craig, Kim.
With limited visibility due to fog, Kim and Craig decided that birding closer to home base required implementing Plan B.
We clicked off a few regulars including Cedar Waxwings at the park then made our way to Clarkfield. Kim’s observation that Yellow Medicine is full of crisscross roads is validated by the RR tracks running diagonally through town and across two main highways – 67 & 59. But it is in Friendship Township, so no need to worry about cross people.
At Clarkfield WTP, we could not give Sarah and Sharon their sewage pond MBW initiation ceremony: the no trespassing signs were prominently displayed. Kim was rounding up the troops until the JTL bellowed “Short-eared Owl!” It was flying left to right across the sewage ponds. Through the fog. Not the best looks but the short body, flat face, and wide wings were unmistakable. The rest of the time was spent on “Wish Birds”. (© Krys)
We left for Oraas Park and some woods birding. Nothing spectacular but some good day birds. Sam found a Hermit Thrush. Telford V. Oraas (1906-1966) was a Minnesota Legislator https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=11395. One of his committees was Temperance and Liquor Control, so you Tanqueray fans need to be thankful that not all the park’s regulations survived.
At Spellman Lake the fog was dissipating. Greater White-fronted Geese and additional waterfowl were seen, but Kim thought Meidd Lake (which translates from Icelandic to English as “Hurt Lake”) would be better. Which makes you wonder what’s going to happen next.
(Wikipedia: "Immigrants from Iceland began arriving in the area in 1875, and eventually around 800 Icelanders had settled in Lyon County, Lincoln County, and Yellow Medicine County.”)
The fog had cleared. I swear the next time Kim says “that [a nearby spruce grove] looks like pretty good habitat,” I am going to walk immediately in that direction. Instead, I wandered up the road looking at the lake for additional waterfowl. So when Kim called that some in the group found a Long-eared Owl, I was ¼ mile away. We all bolted for the conifers along the lake. While we saw the owl fly by a few times, some reproach is in order as we failed to work as a team by letting it perch, then approach, then get scopes on it for longer observation. But a two owl day, and two county birds for Kim was a good start. With 20+ species including Yellow-headed Blackbird and many waterfowl, it was a good stop. And no one got hurt in the mad scramble to find the owl.
One of the many things I admire about my boss is his consistent inconsistency. (Aka, spineless and wishy-washy.) In complete disregard for the schedule, we crossed into Lyon (aka, Lyin’) County. (Kim’s county list includes Ivory-billed Woodpecker.) We proceeded to Gabriel Lake (while maps call it Lone Tree Lake, we all know Google has other bodies of water labeled incorrectly and there are too many Lone Tree Lakes), so Gabriel it remains. There is historical precedent as Gabriel Renville (3) was a prominent Minnesotan who lived in Yellow Medicine. I believe it was Rick or Mae who spotted “white geese” on the lake. We proceeded to walk closer and identify Ross’s Goose and Snow Geese mixed in with several hundred Greater White-fronteds.
Lunch was nigh so we stopped in Cottonwood, MN (NOT in Cottonwood County). We drove past the Eurasian Collared-Dove like it was the ubiquitous bird it has become in every southern county. Kim recalled a time before the late 90’s, long before Sam and Jess were born, when this bird was unknown. Unfortunately, the diner from the 60’s had closed, so no Roast Beef Commercial (4 was available. Sam did have a good question that was left unanswered. “Is Cottonwood, MN more dangerous than Cotton, MN?” He was just planting an idea that stems from his curiosity. But the idea took root and now it has branched out until I’m out on a limb. Perhaps, I’m barking up the wrong tree?
We made a quick side trip, still in Lyin’ County, to visit Sham Lake (no kidding!) then over to Cottonwood WTP. I wonder if our restroom stop made it there before we did? But perhaps I am just relieved that the long slog to the edge of the adjacent lake by Craig did allow him to help me (the lowly JTL) confirm the sighting of Pectoral Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs. With the Greater Yellowlegs on the ponds, we had three shorebirds. (In Britain, “waders”).
On the way out of Cottonwood and Lyon County we remembered Paul Egeland(5), of “Your Uncle Paul's Mother's Garden" fame, whose yard list included the lake and large gardens, and yielded the highest yard list in Minnesota at 235 species! Set that as your yard bird goal.
Back in Yellow Medicine we stopped to scan Curtis Lake. Here we learned (and were severely re-instructed) on the importance of staying together so SHOUTING WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY! So much for “softening”. Northern Pintails were abundant.A great spring migrant. We stopped briefly on the other side of Curtis Lake and found our first Swamp Sparrow.
We added Belted Kingfisher and American White Pelican at Tyson Lake as a JLG (Manlift) vehicle drove by while other people were fishing along the edge of the road. Perhaps a JLG is a future birding option? [Rather than a JTL?] It would lift us up over the berms of the sewage ponds without trespassing. Let’s put it in next year’s budget.
At Mud Lake, specifically the one at 190th Avenue & MN Hwy 274 (there are 261 Mud Lakes in Minnesota), we found more waterfowl. I put Timm's Lake Wildlife Management Area into Google maps, but Timm's Lake was dry, so we did not stop but made for Timm County Park which is on Wood Lake. [Confused yet?] I have some questions of which perhaps I am too timid to ask Janet Timm, the Property and Public Services Director. I did find that “The name Timm is an old and prominent one in Yellow Medicine County, and a great many acres of Posen Township land are owned by the family.” (6)
Anyway, did I digress? Timm Park is a nice area with good field, woods, and water habitat. We exited the cars and spread out, and I believe it was Craig who found Harris’s Sparrow. (7) Scanning the lake, I was glad to find Double-crested Cormorants but even more pleased to retain (or was it regain?) my JTL position by spotting three Red-breasted Mergansers on Wood Lake.
We returned to the Casino and I to my room to slave away on this JTL reort.
Saturday April 12
We met again at The Old Rock. As Mark said: “just another day in 3,800,000,000 years older.” One of the best parts of an MBW is getting to know your fellow birders. Kim, Jane, Krys, and I were in Car One. With a high of 71 predicted for the day, I decided shorts were in order. Only Krys and Jane know the truth.
Clarkfield WTP, Miller-Richter WMA, and several other stops stood in the way of finding my Sharp-tailed Grouse. However, one learns to be patient when your job is on the line and a fickle leader is calling the shots. We were headed west spanning the length of the county. “Shaped like a hammer, Yellow Medicine County is 758 square miles in size. It is 54 miles from east to west but measures only 12 miles (or sections) at the west end from north to south.”
Observing 340 Greater White-fronted Geese in good light and close proximity was worth the stop at Miller Lake. We scanned for alleged Greater Scaup and came up with some “maybes”. Countable?. Do they exist? Only to inspire listers to scan thousands of Lessers.
We added Cooper’s Hawk, Wild Turkey, Turkey Vulture, and Yellow-headed Blackbird to our county and day lists on our way to Canby, MN. Which brings up the hierarchy of birding. Car One occupants, less the wise leader, agreed on this order: Birdwatcher, Birder by Ear, County Lister, Day Lister, Wish Birder (© Krys), and Birding by Demand as the fulfillment of a Birder’s Hierarchy of Needs. But perhaps real awakening occurs when you become a tour leader. Only then can you answer this question: “What is the worse attribute for tour leaders to possess – ignorance or apathy?” (8)
As we approached Canby WTP, several gulls flew across the road. Kim called out Bonaparte’s Gull (9) a great bird for any county list. The white wedges on the top of their wings are a helpful identifier from Franklin’s. Smaller size, agile tern like flight are also good clues. Several of us observed American Pipit before they flushed and disappeared amongst more alleged Greater Scaup.
Stonehill Regional Park / Del Clark Reservoir () has an interesting history as described in past JTL reports. We found Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs in the small pond leading into the park, then spent several minutes enjoying close looks at a Baird’s Sandpiper (11) and American Pipit along the shore of Del Clark Lake. We marched down the Ho Chi Minh Trail at our comrade’s request. Seeking a Winter Wren to advance his revolutionary aims, I can say no more.
“Go West Young Man” was my internal cry. At a wagon’s pace we rolled toward the South Dakota border. True, the stop at Canby Creek, while not productive for birds, yielded distraction with a large smooth soft-shelled turtle, and the rolling landscape was beautiful. Canby Creek flows into the Lac qui Parle River, then into the Minnesota River, which joins the Mississippi in St. Paul. If you want to understand Minnesota, start with the rivers. They were the transportation routes even before Europeans arrived. And continue to be bird migration corridors. As a wise comrade once said, “If you want to find more birds, go towards water.”
We wandered west through the Coteau des Prairies (Prairie Coteau)(12) and towards Mound Springs Prairie SNA. Putting the Minnesota tribe at risk, we entered South Dakota – possibly illegally. Performing a flip-around may have saved someone from a parole violation. (One way to eliminate competition for the coveted JTL position.) As we proceeded north on 110th Street I spotted a raptor perched up to the northeast. Kim declined to turn right on 250th, but he paused for just a moment with the awareness that it could be a Rough-legged Hawk. With his heart in the right place, he turned toward left along Mound Springs Prairie.
The Say’s Phoebe13, 14 flew across the hood of the Desert Khaki Subaru and perched in full view out my passenger window. With Kim shouting into the radio I snapped a few photos and took a movie trying to capture the Phoebe’s relentless calling. The salmon colored flank was just visible, but the identification was undeniable. It allowed for multiple views and hopefully some great photographs as it continued to work its way west.
We stopped at several vistas to admire the remnant prairie and reflect. Wait a minute, I still need Sharp-tailed Grouse. We tried several additional locations but, with a 45-minute drive and the “world’s best rib dinner” beckoning us at The Rock Restaurant, we headed for Granite Falls after I walked down the road while talking to Carol (my non-birding but supportive partner for 45 years) and added Belted Kingfisher to my day list.
At dinner I learned that my car mate, Krys, has traveled to 86 countries and all 87 counties in Minnesota. Her life list is amazing even as she continues to learn about Minnesota birds. She doesn’t have “MOU dots” in every county. That’s Jane’s goal. But they are quite a team. I learned that Jane supports www.mybirdclub.org. A worthwhile organization from what I read online. Which is a segue into my observation that to continue birding we also support conservation.
As I research SNA’s, WPA’s, WMA’s, city, county, regional, state and national parks, conservation easements, Nature Conseervancy lands, easements, and even the individual butterfly garden, I am convinced that more can be done. Craig gave me the book “The Use and Conservation of Minnesota Wildlife 1850-1900”. What makes Minnesota a wonderful place to bird, to enjoy the outdoors, and to live is because so many people have donated time, land, money, etc. out of passion and commitment to preserve the precious resources unique to Minnesota for more than 175 years. I’m glad to be a participant.
After dinner and our checklist meeting, several of us met behind the hotel to try for American Woodcock or another owl. I brought my speaker. We tried multiple variations without success. At the very end, Craig said, “try Eastern Screech-Owl.” Marge heard the reply first and all of us heard the calls. Craig’s observation that almost every woodlot in rural Minnesota has a screech-owl [well, some of them do] inspired me to drive down the hill and try several locations. No luck.
I slept like a rock [what else?] after a great day of birding.
Sunday April 13
6:53 AM: We packed our bags and arrived ready to rock and roll again. The Eastern Phoebe calling was a reminder that the south winds might have blown in some new migrants. Mariann and I found a new trail across the road, with massive granite stone steps leading to an overview below the eagle’s nest. “Let’s roll” said Kim over the radio. Dave Smiglewski’s (15) trail would have to wait for another day.
306th Avenue, one of Kim’s familiar roads: We drove along the Minnesota River, mostly to challenge our Chippewa County listing potential across the river. We paused while Kim put in his “ears” so he could confirm that I heard a Western Meadowlark. Car Five called us back and we spent some time observing and listening to the Eastern Meadowlark I thought I heard in the first place. Marge wondered if a new species was in order to acknowledge hybridization – “Multilingual Meadowlark”. Further along 306th Ave we added Barn Swallow, Savannah, Harris’s, and Clay-colored Sparrows – all perched up nicely among the used disc plows.
Turning back towards Granite Falls we made a brief stop along 540th Street. This borders the Blue Devil Valley SNA and several feeders near the bridge. I walked down the road as the nice gentleman, who worked for many years at the county highway department, was curious about the horde of people walking by his house. We had a nice chat, and he invited us to stop by anytime.
Blue Devil SNA protects one of the rarest of the three lizard species (the “Blue Devil” five-lined skink) in Minnesota (16), but there were no trails from the road and Kim was on a mission to bird other spots. I intend to spend some time there on the next trip.
Memorial Park is another rich habitat location just a few minutes from Granite Falls. We spread out until Matt called the Fox Sparrow, then we dispersed again to find Yellow-rumped Warbler and Chipping Sparrow to welcome the new day. I thrashed through the cedars trying for an additional owl. The 20 species is a good early spring count.
Kim was torn between working on taxes at home, a 4½ hour drive away, versus a favorite 3 miles of road at Swedes Forest SNA. Ultimately the tax man won. We swung up to the casino parking lot to play the screech-owl tape one more time, then we said our goodbyes. As Kim drove me back to the Oldest Rock parking area, he realized he left his speaker behind. Fortuitously as we returned to retrieve it, Eastern Bluebirds flew up along the road.
Insects:
• I swatted my FOY fly.
Reptiles:
• Painted Turtle. One of nine turtle species found in Minnesota. Minnesota DNR Turtle Poster
• Spiny Softshell Turtle. It was large and probably a female. After more research I found that Smooth Softshell Turtles are rare and do not appear to be in Yellow Medicine County. Interesting things you learn when birding is not productive. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/profile.html?action=elementDetail&selectedElement=ARAAG01020#:~:text=In%20Minnesota%2C%20the%20smooth%20softshell,%3B%20Oldfield%20and%20Moriarty%201994).
• Garter Snake (at Stonehill Park)
Mammals:
• Fox Squirrel. We nearly ran it over as it tried to flee across the highway with a corn cob in its teeth.
• Muskrat. Sam got Kim started on ground squirrels, particularly in light of encouraging Burrowing Owls for our Minnesota lists. Honestly the research is interesting. (17)
• Cottontail Rabbit
• White-tailed Deer
• Otter: Sam says he saw one. I otter ask him for more details.
• Vole or mouse. Just an FYI that any wannabe JTL will be tested on their next trip: Lemmings, mice, rats, and voles | Minnesota DNR
References:
• The Yellow Medicine plant is Canadian Moonseed. The long woody root is a beautiful yellow color. Menispermum canadense (Canada Moonseed): Minnesota Wildflowers. A Forager's Guide To Common Moonseed | ForagingGuru, 10 health benefits of Menispermum canadense (canada moonseed). It is listed as poisonous so no recommendations from MBW!
• According to the Minnesota Historical Society “This county, established March 6, 1871, is crossed by the Yellow Medicine River, whence the name is derived. It is a translation of the Dakota name, which Prof. A. W. Williamson spelled and defined thus: "Pajutazee (Pezhihutazi, abbreviated from Pezhihutazizi kapi),--peji, generic name, including grasses and all other erect plants without wood stems; huta, root; zi, yellow; kapi, they dig; diggings of yellow plant root, or yellow medicine diggings; the Dakota name of the Yellow Medicine river, written by Nicollet Pejuta zizi. The name as first spelled was given by Dr. T. S. Williamson to his station and is found in this form on a number of maps." Yellow Medicine | The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.
• Other sources: Yellow Medicine River - Wikipedia, List of Minnesota placenames of Native American origin - Wikipedia,
• Native Place Names in Minnesota: https://hclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S109C779615
• World’s Oldest Rock: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=68877
• The "Gabriel" in Gabriel Lake refers to Gabriel Renville, a prominent Dakota leader and translator, not a geographical feature. He was a key figure in the Dakota War of 1862 and later served as a guide for General Sibley. Yellow Medicine County, where Renville's family lived, is located near the Upper Agency, where the conflict began. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Renville
• Roast Beef Commercial: https://emkaywrites.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/origin-of-the-beef-commercial/#:~:text=The%20ingredients%20for%20a%20beef,known%20in%20Minnesota%20as%20Commercials.
• Paul Egeland: https://moumn.org/awards.html
• Timm: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/yellowmedicine/bios/gtimm.txt
• Answer: “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
• Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus Philadelphia) namesake: “The common name of the Bonaparte’s Gull honors Charles Lucien Bonaparte, a cousin of Napoleon Bonaparte who made important contributions to American ornithology while an active member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia during the 1820s. The scientific name philadelphia was given in 1815 by the describer of the species, George Ord of Philadelphia, presumably because he collected his specimen there.” https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bonapartes_Gull/overview.
• Stonehill Regional Park & Del Clark Reservoir: https://canbynewsmn.com/features/del-clark-lake-was-built-special-request-hubert-humphrey; https://www.pca.state.mn.us/news-and-stories/del-clark-lake-built-for-flood-control-in-canby. Ho Chi Minh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh
• Baird’s Sandpiper: Baird's Sandpiper Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “The name ‘Baird’s’ in English (and Latin species name ‘bairdii’) was given to this bird in honor of American ornithologist Spencer Fullerton Baird.
• Prairie Couteau: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coteau_des_Prairies
• Phoebe is a Greek work meaning “bright, shining, pure”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_(given_name) How birds were given the name will require more research.
• Dave Smiglewski: https://www.wingbain.com/obituaries/david-smiglewski
• Blue Devil: Blue Devil Valley SNA | Minnesota DNR
• Ground Squirrels and Gophers: Thirteen-lined ground squirrel | Minnesota DNR. Richardson’s Ground Squirrels: The DNR confirms “populations are declining due to a lack of suitable habitat and persecution by humans. Historically, the Richardson’s Ground Squirrel thrived in native prairie habitats, but most of this landscape has been converted to agriculture (Minnesota's Remaining Native Prairie (PDF)).”
Addendum:
Why are birds named after people? Particularly men. Below are links to a challenging perspective on bird’s names. People are now questioning the use of all people’s bird names, like some of the birds we observed. Matthew Whalley appears to be authoritative, but know this maybe a volatile subject for some. I found it interesting.
https://matthewhalley.wordpress.com/2020/06/16/the-literal-skeletons-in-the-closet-of-american-ornithology/
https://matthewhalley.wordpress.com/cv-2/