Monthly Archives: November 2013

Shetek State Park

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 […]

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Prairie Coteau Loop

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 […]

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Upper Sioux Agency State Park

Upper Sioux Agency State Park contains the site of the Upper Sioux or Yellow Medicine Agency. The park was established in 1963 to preserve and interpret the remains of the old Agency site. The park covers 1,280 acres and offers diversity: open prairie knolls, bluffs, and cool, wooded slopes. From the vistas, visitors enjoy the […]

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Omro Township WMAs

A must visit area of Yellow Medicine County for birding during spring and fall seasons especially is to the scattered Wildlife Management Areas in Omro Township. This smattering of WMAs includes prairie grassland birding with several small wetlands and creeks to draw waterfowl, grassland nesting species, and migrating hawks.During spring, occasionally flooded fields often provide […]

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Memorial Park – Granite Falls

This neat little park offers some of the same riparian woodland habitat as Upper Sioux Agency State Park, but if time is too limited to go to the State Park, it offers easily managed birding. Camping is also available. Migration is the best season.

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Dell Clark Lake

Just outside Canby, MN on the Western edge of Yellow Medicine County, Stone Hill Regional Park offers the largest water body in the County. This popular recreation area offers camping, and hiking trails along wooded, river environment as well as through tallgrass prairie acres. This is one of the more reliable locations in Yellow Medicine […]

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Lake Shaokotan WMA

Lake Shaokotan WMA, and the County park on the south end of the lake offer additional large water birding, combined with woodland and wetlands. This is a prime spot for peak migration if you miss species elsewhere – especially flying insect eating migrants. Camping is available at the County Park.

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Lake Benton

Located on US Highway 14 Lake Benton is the one of the largest lakes in Southwest Minnesota. The Lake can be scanned from many areas, but probably the best are on the South side of the lake. At the far Southeastern corner of the lake is a small Lincoln County Park called Stony Point. This […]

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Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie

The Nature Conservancy manages this beautiful native prairie tract called Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie. DIRECTIONS: From the City of Lake Benton, you can drive south of the town on Highway 75 about 2 miles to Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie on the West side of the road. This Nature Conservancy tract in the rolling valley atop the Prairie Coteau gives one […]

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Hole-in-the-Mountain Park

Another gem of the remnant landscape is Hole-in-the-Mountain Park in the city of Lake Benton. This City Park nestled in the coulee of a small creek is covered with age-old ash, oak, and elm. DIRECTIONS: West of the town of Lake Benton on US Highway 14 The trails can be extremely muddy after a rain, but […]

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