[mou] Lake Byllesby Late This Afternoon
Arrived at Lake Byllesby in the pouring rain this afternoon. It was very frustrating viewing until the rain began to let up. There were a couple hundred shorebirds present, with birds continuing to fly in the entire time I was there. Most notable was the previously reported Piping Plover (nice male-- still there when I left at 5:30pm), I was unaware it was seen/found earlier in the day. Also, a Wilson's Phalarope and a dowitcher (at about 200 yards in poor light, it appeared to be a Short-billed, but I could be mistaken). Most numerous were Pectoral Sandpipers, with over 100 birds present, several Dunlin, and a few of both Yellowlegs and Killdeer. There were likely a few other species, but I ran out of time to study the flocks more closely. With the weather, I'm betting tomorrow will also be another interesting day at Byllesby as well. Most interesting as far as waterfowl were 14 Snow Geese. Also 3 Forster's Terns. Drew Smith Eagan, Dakota County ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070422/e0a546dd/attachment.html
[mou] Faribault County - Long-tailed Duck - + trip highlights for Martin and Faribault counties - 4/21 - 22, 2007
April 22, 2007 While leading a Minnesota Birding Weekend group, in Faribault county today. Wayne Feder observed a pair of Long-tailed Ducks on Pilot Grove lake. This was at about 9:00 am and the birds were there when we left at 9:30 am. Here are the directions to the lake and some other sighting we had over the last two days. 4/22/2007 Long-tailed Duck - Faribault County - Pilot Grove lake - The lake is located on the West side of CR 9, at 60th Street. The birds were observed on the West end of the lake from about 9:00 to 9:30 am. 4/21/2007 Martin County Snow Goose - A flock of Snow Geese were observed just SE of Pierce Lake. They were feeding in a field along CR 118, 1.5 miles West of CR 27. Ross's Goose - Several Ross's Geese were observed in with the flock of Snow Geese. Osprey Semipalmated Plover - Highway 263, 1 block East of the town of Ceylon. Chimney Swift - Observed just East of Pierce Lake. Purple Martin - In nest boxes in the town of Ceylon. Brown Thrasher - Cedar Park Orange-crowned Warbler 4/22/2007 Faribault County Broad-winged Hawk Virginia Rail - Pilot Grove Lake Sora - Pilot Grove Lake Long-billed Dowitcher - CR 44, 1/4 mile East of Highway 169. Forster's Tern - Rice Lake - Three Forster's Terns were observed Rice Lake in the NW portion of the county. American Pipit Craig Mandel, Minnetonka, MN EgretCMan at msn.com
[mou] Louisana Waterthrush at Minneopa S.P.
Today, April 22, about noon, Leslie Marcus, Mary Alyce Kronke and I heard a Louisana Waterthrush singing as we started down the stairway to the creek below the falls at Minneopa. We located the singing bird on the opposite side of the creek. We then watched it fly down to the creek and work its way along the water's edge, where we had great looks at it for several minutes.The bird flew up into the trees and we lost sight of it, but it was still singing when we left the area. Ruth Hiland --- http://USFamily.Net/dialup.html - $8.25/mo! -- http://www.usfamily.net/dsl.html - $19.99/mo! --- -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070422/0f24bdf3/attachment.html
[mou] New Birds for gallery
I added some new birds to the gallery. They are listed under Peru. The ones I added today were from Lima; long-tailed mockingbird, saffron finch, shiny cowbirds, bananaquit, and the really interesing dark morph vermilion flycatchers from Lima. Apparently, Lima is the only area where the dark morph (obscurans) is really common. Also the non-dark morph females seem to have a lot of variability as far as color (red or salmon or none) and also the extent of the color on the belly is variable (from none to the whole belly area). The variability of the females is not confined to Lima. I saw a female in Ecuador with no color on the belly - just the light brown stripes. Larry Sirvio
[mou] Lake Blyllesby shorebirds, Dakota County
Today in the early afternoon, I saw flocks of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and flocks of Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers on the northwest mudflats of Lake Byllesby. Just before it rained, I saw one Wilson's Phalarope, feeding with the Lesser Yellowlegs. At least 50 White Pelicans, a mixed flock of ducks and flocks of gulls were also present. The entrance to this viewing area is off of highway 88, 1/4 mi. east of Randolph, on the lake side of the highway. At this time there are railroad cars on either side of the entrance. Park on the highway shoulder or in the small parking area on the other side of the tracks, and walk past the gate, following the paths southwest to where there is a clear view of the lake. Laura Coble Cannon Falls -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070422/d29ecd2c/attachment.html
[mou] Weekend Migrants
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[mou] Avocets- Kandiyohi county
Saturday afternoon I found 2 avocets, 2 golden plovers, 1 wilson's phalarope, 14 pectoral sandpipers, and about 30 yellow-legs (mostly lesser), near the town of Pennock in Kandiyohi county. This wetland isn't big or special; it looks like the drain tile has been repaired and therefore won't hold the water it did last year, but, for the moment, the birds like it. Depending on how much rain we get, it should be around another week. >From the town of Willmar, go west on hwy 12 to Pennock. Go west another 2 miles(?) from Pennock to 120th and turn north (right). The wetland is on the east side of the road about 1/2 mile from highway 12. The golden plovers were still in basic (winter) plumage, so are easily overlooked in the grass. Randy Frederickson Willmar
[mou] Palm Warbler, swamp sparrow ... bird banding at Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley, MN
The first wave of the warbler migration was apparent during our bird banding session this morning at Springbrook NC in Fridley, Anoka County. Our total of 69 birds captured included: 1 palm warbler 21 yellow-rumped warblers 1 swamp sparrow 2 white-throated sparrows 2 ruby-crowned kinglets 1 hermit thrush ---Ron Refsnider
[mou] Piping Plover - Dakota County
This afternoon James Otto and I observed a Piping Plover at the west end of Lake Byllesby between 12:00 and 12:30. There were large number of Lesser Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpipers with a few Baird's Sandpipers in the mix. Also observed for the first time were Purple Martins. The Carolina Wren was singing in the ravine below my balcony early this morning. Friday it was over by the Bloomington Garden Center. Bruce Baer Bloomington, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070422/bf92d2c1/attachment.html
[mou] Hennepin Co Finds
Hello All- I birded Westwood Hills (St. Louis Park) this morning, and much was about! Y-R Warblers, W-T Sparrows, and R-C Kinglets singing everywhere! I found a House Wren near the center, and there was a single male Ruddy Duck out on the lake. Swamp Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes, Pileated Woodpecker, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead...that was about it. Also, I found an un-identified wren near the Y Dock. It was light-colored and had some white on its back. Unfortunately, a Swamp Sparrow chased it away, but now I'm guessing it was the House Wren (I was wishing for a Sedge!) I got a little luckier at the General Mills mudflat-y area, which is directly southeast of the intersection of 55 and 169. On the north side (facing 55), I happened upon a flock of 20-30 sparrows. Most of them were Savannah, but it also contained Chipping, Song, one Clay-colored, and a probable Vesper's Sparrow. Also a Killdeer was performing its broken-wing display. A Cooper's Hawk, and later a Bald Eagle, soared over the mudflats. Despite checking both the ponds near my house, neither were hosting the B-C N Herons. Hmm. I wonder where they went? I'll keep eveyone posted as soon as I can relocate them... Good birding to all! Alyssa DeRubeis Golden Valley -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070422/6119e3d8/attachment.html
[mou] New migrants - Louisville Swamp - Scott County
First walk ever through Louisville Swamp. I was pleasantly surprised, great park & should be spectacular when the birds start really moving. Thirty-five species. ** BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS - First of the year, Found 3 along the trail, north side of the swamp. One singing to another, one farther West chasing bugs. ** PALM WARBLER - First of the year, one bird singing. ** BROWN THRASHER - First of the year, 4 seen and/or heard. ** FIELD SPARROW - First of the year ** YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - Stopped counting at 90 as I turned and headed back the way I came. Wow. ** WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS - Stopped counting at 58. ** BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS - More than I ever cared to see in one place. Very active. ** BLUE-WINGED TEAL - 14 Also heard Sandhill Cranes, Turkeys, Pheasants and many Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. Great Egrets in 4 counties this weekend. Jason -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070422/19739a23/attachment.html
[mou] Ovenbird in Rice County
Hi everyone, I went for a walk this morning from Teepee Tonka Park to River Bend Nature Center and saw a plethora of birds. Most shocking was an Ovenbird! This is by far my earliest record for this species. On another warbler note, I also saw Orange Crowned Warblers in three different locations. Other new birds for the year were: Brown Thrasher, House Wren, Bank Swallow, and many, many White-throated Sparrows. More highlights included Lincoln's Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper, and an Eastern Meadowlark singing in the prairie at River Bend (which is a rare occurrence here). It will be interesting to hear what everybody else sees today after that strong southern wind all day yesterday. Good birding! Dave Bartkey Faribault, MN screechowl at charter.net -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070422/986f0818/attachment.html
[mou] bird and water feature bonanza
Holy Buckets! I put up this relatively simple water feature with a cacaphonous fountain and churgling waterfall and Eureka! Birding Bonanza! This might be coincidental or just the spring rush of migrants but I do have one year of experience with my yard birds. Within 48 hours of turning this water puppy on I have been inundated with birds! Last year one RC Kinglet, three Chipping Sparrows, no Song Sparrow, no YB Sapsucker, many robins, jays, juncos, etc. Now with the water in a brief blink of time, I have an entire flock of RC Kinglets, a plethora of Chippers, two paired Song Sparrow couples, a bath of WT Sparrows, what appears to be platoons of organized robins creating dominance orders for baths and drinks, Grackles and Rusty Blackbirds following the robin organizational structure, etc... Every moment is new and I have had to set up a second pair of house binoculars at the kitchen window to monitor the water area. Me thinks I should have set the water feature up behind my existing feeders and bath - for Woe Is Me I am forced to have two separate birdie-copias to ping-pong between over the course of my home office days. Somebody pinch me I must be dreaming! That would be two thumbs up for a water feature investment (in case I am ever asked to vote)! Yay! Thomas Maiello Spring Lake Park
[mou] Swainson's Thrush, Hennepin County Wood Lake
In keeping with the early thrush theme, I had a Swainson's Thrush this morning at Wood Lake after going to look at the Great Horned Owl Chicks. Never would have expected to see one except for the few reports that have come in the last week. It was in thick brush along the path to the left of the entrance right after the split where you can head off to the boardwalk on your right.
[mou] Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ramsey County
At 10:00 this morning (Sunday) Sally and I spotted a NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW near Sucker Lake in Vadnais Heights. I'm not sure how often these birds are spotted on migration and/or in the metro area, but it was a life-bird for us! We got a very good (but all-too-brief) look at this secretive bird. We also saw (and heard) a singing PINE WARBLER in the same area (our 2nd in as many days). Paul Spreitzer and Sally Heuer St. Paul __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
