This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, April 10th. I have a second-hand report of a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE being found on the 9th in Dodge County on the north side of the gravel pits north of the town of Claremont. From Claremont on U.S. Highway 14 take the paved road running north for about 2.5 miles, passing the gravel pits on your right. The bird was located in the trees at the northeast corner of the intersection of the gravel road right after the gravel pits. Eurasian Collared-Doves were also reported without details from Renville in Renville County and Russell in Lyon County.
On April 6th, three ROSS'S GEESE were found at the Hills sewage pond in southern Rock County. Two more Ross's Geese were at New Prague ponds in Scott County on the same day. At the Luverne sewage ponds in Rock County, the following shorebirds were noted on the 6th: GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and WILSON'S SNIPE. A few Lesser Yellowlegs were seen in the nearby wetlands of Lake Hattie in Stevens County on the 8th. TUNDRA SWANS, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and numerous migrant ducks were all seen on the lake. Lake Hattie is three and a half miles south of highway 28, between Stevens County Road 9 and 11. I also have reports of COMMON LOON, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, HERMIT THRUSH, CHIPPING SPARROW, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. This state-wide birding report is brought to you and financially supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU). The MOU is Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. The report is composed from observations generously submitted by MOU members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this weekly update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at axhert...@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message. MOU members receive this report directly on MOU-net, the club's free e-mail listservice, which is available to anyone interested. For information contact David Cahlander at <da...@cahlander.com>. MOU members receive the organization's quarterly journal "The Loon" and the bimonthly magazine, "Minnesota Birding". For membership information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at moumemb...@yahoo.com. In cooperation with the Minnesota Office of Tourism, highlights of this hotline can be heard at a toll free number which is available to callers outside the Twin Cities area. The number is 1-800-657-3700. The MOU is pleased to offer this service. Thank you, and good birding. The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, April 18th. -- Anthony Hertzel -- axhert...@sihope.com
