Tag Archives: SW

Shetek State Park

Posted on by

Lake Shetek and Shetek State Park offer diverse birding in one location. The big water of Lake Shetek has regularly draws a wide array of waterbirds, including an occasional Loon. The State Park – with its mature oaks, and prairie potholes – offers more diversity than most areas in Southwest Minnesota. One can find Western Grebe, Commer Tern, Virginia Rail, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Spotted Towhee all in a few short hours in this area.

Other than the lake itself, a few areas of particular interest include Loon Island, and the Webster, and Hanover Slough areas.

Look for just about anything in migration, but don’t expect anything. The big water is sometimes empty, and the woods silent. But catch this location during a potential migration stop site from bad weather, and the bounty could be great!

CLICK HERE for a birding checklist

Prairie Coteau Loop

Posted on by

The Prairie Coteau Loop of the Minnesota River Birding Trail includes Lincoln and Lyon Counties; covering a prairie landscape highlighted with diverse wetlands and wooded rivers. This versatile loop can be split in two fro a weekend adventure, can be the source of a “Big Day”, or you could spend an entire day combing Camden State Park itself. Spotted Towhee, Short-eared Owl, shorebirds, and grassland sparrows are likely during the right time of year.

The Prairie Coteau Loop includes the following locations, linked to this website:

  • Camden State Park
  • Black Rush Lake WPA
  • Garvin County Park
  • Twin Lakes County Park
  • Tyler WMA
  • Lake Benton
  • Memorial Cemetery
  • Hole-in-the-Mountain-Prairie
  • Hole-in-the-Mountain-Park
  • Norwegian Creek County Park
  • Chen Bay WMA
  • Curtis-Herschberger WMA
  • Ash Lake WMA
  • Anderson Lake WMA
  • Ivanhoe WMA
  • Gislason Lake NWR
  • Sioux Prairie WMA
  • Coon Creek WMA

 

 

The links listed below include a Guide to the Loop, and the Birds of Prairie Coteau Loop.

  • Printable Map
  • Bird List of the Prairie Coteau Loop
  • Printable Guide