[Mnbird] Sax Zim Bog Solitary Sandpiper, Peafowl

[Kyle TePoel]

Yesterday I guided a visitor from Connecticut around the Sax Zim Bog. He
spotted a Solitary Sandpiper which I was able to get a good look at. The
birding there yesterday was quite slow overall, and while early shorebird
migration is certainly underway, but having not seen any other shorebirds
throughout the bog (or migrants in general), I can't help but wondering if
this was a summering bird (can't say breeding as I saw no others, though we
were focusing on owls and didn't make the effort to investigate further).

Knowing that there is at least a very limited breeding range for these
birds, I referenced the Breeding Bird Atlas and see that the records on
hand are all north of here. Nonetheless, the habitat type certainly is not
out of the realm of possibility.

If anyone happens to be up there any time soon, the bird was seen at the
northeast junction of Owl Avenue and Overton Road. It was walking (and
presumably foraging) in the muddy ditch below the roads.

Additionally, we watched a female Peafowl/Peacock with several young
crossing Kelsey Whiteface Road. I've never seen these roaming around the
bog before--anyone know if they are escaped or just "free-roaming" (seems
like a dangerous place for a domestic bird to try that)?

Kyle Te Poel
Stillwater Township
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