Monthly Archives: November 2013

Gislason Lake NWR

On the Lincoln-Lyon County Border, Gislason Lake National Wildlife Refuge Area, and the surrounding upland acres has was designates a National Wildlife Refuge in 2010. This land is a most welcome addition to Southwest Minnesota. Combined with Sioux Prairie WMA to the Southeast, birders could spend an entire day searching this complex for nesting species […]

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Curtis-Herschberger WMA

The Curtis-Herschberger Wildlife Management Area is the perfect example of how prairie pothole restoration can work. This moderately sized WMA complex offers scattered patches of dense scrub in a rolling prairie grass covered hill setting between two diverse wetlands. Throw in a sizeable grove of mature trees and you’ve got on-stop birding in almost any […]

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Chen Bay WMA

Located to the North of Lake Benton is the Chen Bay Wildlife Management Area After leaving Norwegian Creek County Park, go back to US Highway 75 and turn North for 1 mile, turn East and follow the curving Lincoln County Road for about 3 miles. The basin to the North is a great place to […]

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Ash Lake WMA

Ash Lake Wildlife Management Area is as bit difficult to reach, but worth a quick stop. DIRECTIONS: Traveling north to Lincoln County Road 16, then turn west and travel 1 mile to County Road 104. Travel North for one more mile, then go East again for 1.3 mile. All this back-tracking will get you to the […]

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Anderson Lake WMA

Anderson Lake Wildlife Management Area may be the best wetland birding in Lincoln County. DIRECTIONS: Anderson Lake Wildlife Management Area is located on Minnesota Highway 19, however, access is not safe coming off the busy Highway 19, so I recommend turning South on County Road 104 and continuing 1/4-mile to a safer place to park. A […]

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Wayside Park

“Good birding in 30 minutes or less.” should be the slogan for this park. Wayside park offers good birding for those who are visiting Marshall, but who do not have enough time for a trip away from city limits. There is suitable woodland here to trap migrants, and play host to nesting Eastern Screech Owl, […]

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Sioux Prairie Wildlife Management Area

Sioux Prairie Wildlife Management Area is another reminder of what life was like long ago. You may first want to scan the Gislason Lake area in Lincoln County for water birds, herons, and egrets, or listen for rails and wrens. Tundra Swans use this lake during migration while mergansers congregate in the spring when the […]

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Garvin County Park

Garvin County Park is the heart of the Cottonwood River in Lyon County. Almost 1000 acres of riparian woodland nestled into the remnant prairie landscape offer deep valleys for species like Spotted Towhee. The only Lyon County Park, Garvin Park’s habitat is similar to that of Camden State Park; a rich riparian area along the […]

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Twin Lakes County Park

East and West Twin Lakes will be the new home of Lyon County’s second County Park thanks to the initiative of local resident, Carmen Christiansen. The camping area is in development as of 2013, yet, the lakes in this area seems to be along the flight path of a migration route for waterfowl. DIRECTIONS: From the […]

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Cottonwood Lakes Area

There’s something almost magical about the Cottonwood Lakes area. Whether its the accumulated Karma from local birders, or the effect of a rich diversity in close proximity, these lakes turn up rare birds. DIRECTIONS: Cottonwood Lake is at the City of Cottonwood on the West side of MN Hwy 23. To the south of Cottonwood on […]

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