Barbara and I drove up to Nygren Wetlands, west of Rockton, in the early evening tonight to see if we could find any Short-eared Owls hunting over the marsh at dusk.  We did not see any SE Owls, but we had a lot of puddle ducks at the intersection of Moody and Blodgett Roads.  We believe that many of them came in to Nygren at dusk to roost for the night.

There were about 120 Wood Ducks in the flooded corn field at Moody/Blodgett.  Most Wood Ducks I have ever seen in one place!  Also there were many N. Shovelers, a few Am. Wigeon, a Redhead, 29 WF Geese, and all of those Wood Ducks.  There were 68 Sandhill Cranes standing in a flock at the east end of Moody Road, plus another 10 at Nygren.  One pair at Nygren, apart from the others, was picking up and carrying vegetation, so nest building seems to be under way there.

If anyone goes to Nygren and sees SE Owls, please post that information.  Thank you.