In general, shorebirds are migrating through Minnesota on their way to wintering grounds during the month of August. These birds can often be seen in shallow wetlands and mudflats. August is also an excellent time to view sandhill crane families leaving their nests in the marshes for adjacent wetlands and mudflats.

The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:

Two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS have been in Madison Township, in Lac Qui Parle County since the 31st of July. The Night-Herons were found at a small pothole near U.S. Hwy 75, just southeast of its intersection with County Road 59. Both birds were seen as recently as August 13th.

A possible LITTLE BLUE HERON was reported from Auto Tour Road at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Sherburne County. The last report was of a small heron in the dead trees at Bergeson Pool on August 15th.

At the Jirik Sod Farm near the town of Empire in Dakota County, five BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were reported by Steve Weston on the 15th.

And finally, on the morning of August 13th, Chet Meyers and Steve Carlson found a singing CAROLINA WREN in the red cedar meadow at the northeast end of Cedar Lake in Minneapolis. A second wren was banded at Hawk Ridge in Duluth on the 15th.