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Birding in
Northwestern Olmsted County |
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by Bob Ekblad
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| 1 |
Oxbow County Park |
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| Directions: West from Rochester on Hwy 14 to
Byron. Turn right onto Cty 5 at the traffic light in Byron. North on Cty 5
for 3 miles to Cty 4. Make a right on Cty 4 and then a quick left onto the
gravel road that goes into/through the park. |
Seasonal Ratings:
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Primary Species: Woodland birds,
hawks, eagles, owls,
herons (green
and great blue), winter
finches |
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Oxbow Park is located on the South Branch of the Middle Fork of the
Zumbro River (once they got to the 'Z's they must have given up trying to
think of new river names). The park has several access points off of the main
road. The main picnic area is located inside of the oxbow in the river. From
here you can cross the foot bridge and hike the trails to the west (away from
the river) or follow the main trail that follows the river up to two additional
bridge crossings.
There is also a middle bridge picnic area, probably the best general
area in the park, that is found by driving further north past the day camp
area and then turning left through the gate. Take the left turn before
entering the nature center and zoo parking area and proceed on down to the
picnic parking area. From here you can go several directions.
To the south the Audubon trail heads through the woods next to the river
to the day camp area. Here you can look for woodpeckers, thrushes and
warblers. To the north, you can walk the river up to and through through
the campground area and on up to the third bridge (same species). The
woodsy area along the river can be quite good for warblers and Winter Wren.
To the east (back up the road) you can walk through the pine and spruce tree
area. The area south of the road has been a good place to find White-winged
and Red Crossbills in the winter (in the years when they get this far south).
To the west you can take the short walk across the bridge (away from the picnickers)
to look for warblers and thrushes. Look for Winter Wren in the tangles
of downed trees in the low area along the river in April. If you climb to
the top of the hill you may find Scarlet Tanager or Wood Thrush.
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Also found in the park are Eastern Bluebirds, Wood Duck
and several species of sparrows and warblers. Several years ago a county
first record White-eyed Vireo was found here. Turkeys can be found in the
park as well and are often heard calling above the day camp area. Also, in
the spring, American Woodcock can be heard calling at dusk in the pine area
between the road and the day camp area or they may even be found in the open
grassy area near the parking lot for the middle bridge. |
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| 2 |
Landfill Reservoirs (East & South) |
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| Directions: West from Rochester on Hwy 14.
Right on Cty 104 and then left onto 156. At the first crossroads you can
either proceed straight to view the South Landfill Reservoir or you can turn
right to go to the East Landfill Reservoir. |
Seasonal Ratings:
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| Primary Species: waterfowl, gulls, shorebirds,
herons, egrets, sparrows, blackbirds |
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EAST LANDFILL RESERVOIR
- This reservoir, one of the two best birding areas in the county, is located
on the east side of 70th Ave NE right across the road from the landfill
property. If you stop at the top of the hill (south west side of the
reservoir) you can use the height advantage to scope the back corner pools
where there are often "good birds" (not coots). In season, you can
expect to see all kinds of diving and puddle ducks, Great Blue and Green
Heron, Marsh and Sedge Wren, Red-wing and Yellow-headed Blackbirds,
Bobolinks, Dickcissel, and Savannah, Field and Song Sparrows. Soaring overhead
you may spot a Swainson's Hawk, Bald Eagle, or a Peregrine Falcon.
Juvenile Great Horned Owls have also been seen hunting this reservoir.
In migration look for Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, Herring and Franklin's
Gulls as well as Forster's, Black, Common and Caspian Terns. You may
also find a Common Loon or Pied-billed, Horned, Red-necked, Eared or Western
Grebes (Clark's have not shown up this far east in the state - yet).
This is also one of the best locations for spotting shorebirds, although
the finding is tough when the water level is high. Good finds here,
just in 1998, include Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover and American
Avocet. Even more rare birds found in 1998 were Cattle Egret, Sandhill
Crane, Little Blue Heron (first located at the South Landfill Reservoir)
and a contingent of Le Conte's and Nelson Sharp-tailed Sparrows that stopped
in (and hung around for over a week) during fall migration.
SOUTH LANDFILL RESERVOIR
- This reservoir is located directly across the road to the south of the
landfill entrance. Viewing access is either from the road that runs along
in front of the landfill entrance or from the road on the south side.
Viewing is best done with a scope. A short drive to the west there
is a field access where you can pull off the road and get a slightly better
view the the more marsh-like part of the pond. In addition to most
of the birds listed as seen at the East Landfill Reservoir, look for Wilson's
Phalarope, Greater White-fronted and Snow Geese and Rusty Blackbirds.
Dickcissel, Sedge Wren and Bobolink sing from the grasses very near the road
(check closer to the intersection to the east if you don't find them closer
to the reservoir). Single Red-necked Phalaropes were seen here in the
fall of 1996 and again in 1997. Also, a Little Blue Heron was found
here in in the spring of 1998 (adult bird) and again in the late summer of
1999 (almost pure white immature bird).
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The area north of Douglas is excellent for several
species due to a varied habitat of deciduous trees, shrubs, open fields, and
a small sedge marsh. Birds found here include Sedge Wrens, Willow Flycatcher,
Clay-colored Sparrow, Dickcissel, and for a several years up until 1984,
a pair of Bell's Vireos.
You may also want to check the trail further north where it crosses
the river. Birds may be found hanging around the river and also along
the trail on the north side of Cty 3. In addition to the species mentioned
above, you may also find Black-billed Cuckoo and possibly
even Yellow-billed Cuckoos in this area.
Just south of Douglas, about a mile from the trail, is a private
pond area complete with Wood Duck houses. The pond is a short distance to
the west of County 3 on the first road south of Douglas. The pond is excellent
for waterfowl in spring. One day there were 10 species of waterfowl on this
small pond.
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| 4 |
Oronoco County Park |
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| Directions: North from Rochester on Hwy 52.
Turn right on Cty 12 after you pass by the lake. |
Seasonal Ratings:
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| Primary Species: waterfowl |
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Oronoco Park is located on Shady Lake near the northern border of
the county. This lake is known for attracting Red-breasted and Common Mergansers,
Common Loon and gulls. Some birds can be seen on the lake from Highway 52,
but it is safer to go to the north edge of the lake and turn east on County
12. Just a short distance after the turn there is a good spot for viewing
the lake from your car. The entrance to the park is ahead on the right. The
marshy area west of Highway 52 can be viewed from the access road across from
County 12. Also be sure to check the area on the west side of Highway
52 for Great Egret and other birds that like less exposed areas. |
| 5 |
Northern Hills |
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| Directions: North from Rochester on Hwy 52.
Turn left on 55th St. (Cty 22). Bear to the right at the curve to
stay on 55th St. Cross over the Douglas Trail and turn left at the
next crossroads. Proceed south to the stream crossing. |
Seasonal Ratings:
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| Primary Species: Clay-colored Sparrow |
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The north-south avenues on either side of Northern Hills Golf Course (off
55th St. NW) are usually productive for owls, Ring-necked Pheasant, and Gray
Partridge. Later in the spring, the areas along the pine plantation are good
places to find Clay-colored Sparrow. Usually their buzz-buzz-buzz is heard
before they are spotted perched out on the end of a branch. |
| 6 |
Essex Park |
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| Directions:
North from Rochester on Hwy 52 to 55th street exit. Right on 55th
and proceed east to 18th street. Straight at the stop sign on 18th.
Turn right into the park after about a mile. |
Seasonal Ratings:
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| Primary Species: sparrows, warblers, thrushes |
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Essex Park is about a mile north of 37th St. NW on West River Boulevard.
It can also be reached by going north on 18th Ave and turning right on 55th
Street. This area is good for early thrushes and warblers. There are several
good trails but if you are short of time, you can either take the paved trail
east of the foot bridge near the park entrance (good for sparrows and thrushes)
or the loop trail that heads west from the picnic area (best for warblers,
especially along the creek). |
| 7 |
Foster-Arend Park |
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| Directions:
North from downtown Rochester on Hwy 63. Left on 37th St. (Cty 22).
Right at the stoplight and then left into the park parking lot. |
Seasonal Ratings:
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| Primary Species: waterfowl, sparrows,
warblers, thrushes |
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The Foster-Arend Park is located just north of Rochester off of 37th St.
at East River Road. Since the park is a "swimming and fishing hole" it is
best to get there early in the day. You may find diving ducks, Osprey, Bald
Eagle, Black-crowned Night Heron, hawks, Common Loon, and Pied-billed and
Horned Grebes (and possibly a Red-necked Grebe - if you're lucky).
You can park in the lot and take a hike around the pond or you can drive
on the road to the gravel pit on the north to get a view of the pond.
The gravel pit on the other side of this road may also be productive for
shorebirds or Bank Swallows, but, because this is an active pit, the landscape
here is ever changing and may be good sometimes and barren the next. |
| 8 |
Evergreen Acres |
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Top
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| Directions:
North from Rochester on Hwy 63. Left onto Cty 14. Right on 20th
Ave NE (gravel road) heading north. Left into Evergreen Acres at the
second road to left. |
Seasonal Ratings:
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| Winter |
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| Primary Species: shrike, winter finches,
owls, turkey |
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The road heading north from County 14 between the river and Highway
63 is good in winter for Northern Shrike and Wild Turkey. Watch for
Wild Turkey on the west side of the road about a mile north of Cty 14.
About 2 miles up, there are several large pine plantations that are good
for owls and, in winter, a chance of Evening Grosbeaks, Red or White-winged
Crossbills.
In the summer, you can take advantage of the birding along the river.
You can either drive down the dead-end road to the old bridge (Frank's Ford
bridge) and view the birds from there or you can get "up close and personal"
with a canoe trip down the river. You can put in at the Cty 14
(park by the bridge and haul your canoe down on the west side of the bridge)
and canoe to the old bridge (approximately 2-3/4 mi) or even go all the way
into the lake to the Sandy Point landing just short of the big Cty 12 bridge
(an additional 4 miles).
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