Lake Byllesby is worth checking October-November for late migrating shorebirds and ducks, and is outstanding for ducks and shorebirds March - May 15. Outside of these seasons, it is not worth birding unless you are planing to be in the area otherwise. Note that the birds here are usually very distant, so a spotting scope is highly recommended. In the spring, usually one of the the three west end access points is the best, and this varies by year. If you are not sure, it is not too difficult to check all three, and in the peak of migration it's worth doing this anyway. Outside of the points listed here, there is almost no access to the lake, so don't bother trying to find viewpoints - many have tried, and none have succeeded. When planning, it is worthwhile to check eBird and the Minnesota listserv though be aware that some checklists are ocasionally placed at the incorrect hotspot on eBird.
The west end usually has at least several hundred shorebirds from mid April to May 15, when the shorebird habitat is destroyed for boating. From the middle of April until early May is the best time to try for Piping Plover, which is nearly annual at this locality, while many other unusual shorebirds arrive closer to May 15, such as Ruddy Turnstone and Red-necked Phalarope. White-rumped Sandpiper sometimes makes an appearance around May 15, so the only regular Minnesota shorebird that doesn't occur here is Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which only moves through this part of the state in August-September, when the habitat here is still underwater. It is also possible to find scoters and loons here, most often in late April or October/November. Western and Eared Grebe are regular here in the spring.
Lake Byllesby is worth checking October-November for late migrating shorebirds and ducks, and is outstanding for ducks and shorebirds March - May 15. Outside of these seasons, it is not worth birding unless you are planing to be in the area otherwise. In Note that the birds here are usually very distant, so a spotting scope is highly recommended. In the spring, usually one of the the three west end access points is the best, and this varies by year. If you are not sure, it is not too difficult to check all three, and in the peak of migration it's worth doing this anyway. Outside of the points listed here, there is almost no access to the lake, so don't bother trying to find viewpoints - many have tried, and none have succeeded. When planning, it is worthwhile to check eBird and the Minnesota listserv though be aware that some checklists are ocasionally placed at the incorrect hotspot on eBird.
The west end usually has at least several hundred shorebirds from mid April to May 15, when the shorebird habitat is destroyed for boating. From the middle of April until early May is the best time to try for Piping Plover, which is nearly annual at this locality, while many other unusual shorebirds arrive closer to May 15, such as Ruddy Turnstone and Red-necked Phalarope. White-rumped Sandpiper sometimes makes an appearance around May 15, so the only regular Minnesota shorebird that doesn't occur here is Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which only moves through this part of the state in August-September, when the habitat here is still underwater. It is also possible to find scoters and loons here, most often in late April or October/November. Western and Eared Grebe are regular here in the spring.
Lake Byllesby is worth checking October-November for late migrating shorebirds and ducks, and is outstanding for ducks and shorebirds March - May 15. Outside of these seasons, it is not worth birding unless you are planing to be in the area otherwise. In the spring, usually one of the the three west end access points is the best, and this varies by year. If you are not sure, it is not too difficult to check all three, and in the peak of migration it's worth doing this anyway. Outside of the points listed here, there is almost no access to the lake, so don't bother trying to find viewpoints - many have tried, and none have succeeded.
succeeded. When planning, it is worthwhile to check eBird and the Minnesota listserv though be aware that some checklists are ocasionally placed at the incorrect hotspot on eBird.
The west end usually has at least several hundred shorebirds from mid April to May 15, when the shorebird habitat is destroyed for boating. From the middle of April until early May is the best time to try for Piping Plover, which is nearly annual at this locality, while many other unusual shorebirds arrive closer to May 15, such as Ruddy Turnstone and Red-necked Phalarope. White-rumped Sandpiper sometimes makes an appearance around May 15, so the only regular Minnesota shorebird that doesn't occur here is Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which only moves through this part of the state in August-September, when the habitat here is still underwater. It is also possible to find scoters and loons here, most often in late April or October/November. Western and Eared Grebe are regular here in the spring.
Lake Byllesby is worth checking October-November for late migrating shorebirds and ducks, and is outstanding for ducks and shorebirds March - May 15. Outside of these seasons, it is not worth birding unless you are planing to be in the area otherwise. In the spring, usually one of the the three west end access points is the best, and this varies by year. If you are not sure, it is not too difficult to check all three, and in the peak of migration it's worth doing this anyway. Outside of the points listed here, there is almost no access to the lake, so don't bother trying to find viewpoints - many have tried, and none have succeeded.
The west end usually has at least several hundred shorebirds from mid April to May 15, when the shorebird habitat is destroyed for boating. From the middle of April until early May is the best time to try for Piping Plover, which is nearly annual at this locality, while many other unusual shorebirds arrive closer to May 15, such as Ruddy Turnstone and Red-necked Phalarope. White-rumped Sandpiper sometimes makes an appearance around May 15, so the only regular Minnesota shorebird that doesn't occur here is Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which only moves through this part of the state in August-September, when the habitat here is still underwater. It is also possible to find scoters and loons here, most often in late April or October/November. Western and Eared Grebe are regular here in the spring.
Lake Byllesby is worth checking October-November for late migrating shorebirds and ducks, and is outstanding for ducks and shorebirds March - May 15. Outside of these seasons, it is not worth birding unless you are planing to be in the area otherwise. In the spring, usually one of the the three west end access points is the best, and this varies by year. If you are not sure, it is not too difficult to check all three, and in the peak of migration it's worth doing this anyway. Outside of the points listed here, there is almost no access to the lake, so don't bother trying to find viewpoints - many have tried, and none have succeeded.
The west end usually has at least several hundred shorebirds from mid April to May 15, when the shorebird habitat is destroyed for boating. From the middle of April until early May is the best time to try for Piping Plover, which is nearly annual at this locality, while many other unusual shorebirds arrive closer to May 15, such as Ruddy Turnstone and Red-necked Phalarope. White-rumped Sandpiper sometimes makes an appearance around May 15, so the only regular Minnesota shorebird that doesn't occur here is Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which only moves through this part of the state in August-September, when the habitat here is still underwater. It is also possible to find scoters and loons here, most often in late April or October/November. Western and Eared Grebe are regular here in the spring.
