[mou] The end of the day in Gnesen
Flickers, Goldfinches, Purple Finches, House Finches, Hermit Thrushes, Greater Yellowlegs, Osprey, Yellow Rumps, Hairys, Downys and Pileateds. The Ravens, Ringbilled Gulls and Crows round out my list. In all, probably 30 Fox Sparrows and 50 Rusty Blackbirds.? 15 Yellow Legs as well.? A good BIGBY day. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a Cardinal this year.? I've had only 2 in 10 years. The dogs had a good day watching the deer and rabbits in the yard and chasing the squirrels.? I wish they would shag the geese off the lawn.? chris -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/50b9ea38/attachment.html
[mou] Cinnamon Teal in Polk County (4/26)
On the 26th, on the Polk Minnesota Birding Weekend Trip, I found a male Cinnamon Teal at the sewage lagoons in Crookston at 7:45pm. The entire group had excellent views of the individual. There were no signs of hybridization. It hung around for ten minutes, then flew southwest from the north bank it was hanging out on. Unfortunately, we could not relocate it today, and we had special permission to use the otherwise off-limits sewage lagoons. Good birding! Alyssa DeRubeis Golden Valley tiger150 at comcast.net E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (5.5.0.212) Database version: 5.09700 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor/ -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/b5088ad3/attachment.html
[mou] Duluth highlights 4/27/2008
Am. White Pelican -- one at Perch Lake, near Gary-New Duluth. Hermit Thrush -- *274* This total includes Southworth Marsh (55), Park Point Recreation Area (73), Western Waterfront Trail at Indian Point (63), and other locations on Park Point, Duluth. This represents the second highest count for the state (4,000 were estimated by Jan Green along a 10 mile stretch of state highway 61, St. Louis County, 29 April 1966). Bohemian Waxwing -- One late migrant at Southworth Marsh, Park Point, Duluth. Vesper Sparrow -- One near the Duluth Rowing Club, Park Point. Fox Sparrow -- *192* This total includes Southworth Marsh (107), Park Point Recreation Area (21), Western Waterfront Trail at Indian Point (49), and other locations on Park Point, Duluth. A single flock of 66 birds was included in the total of 107 at Southworth Marsh. All birds were individually counted and care was taken to avoid counting each individual more than once. This represents the second highest count for the state (300 were reported by Jan Green at Duluth, St. Louis County, 21 April 1970). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Carver County/Maria Lake
The largest lake in south central Carver County is Maria Lake south of Cologne. It is shallow and not many other lakes around of its size. Highlights for 4-27 include: Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-Necked Grebe White Pelicans DC Cormorants GB Heron Great Egret TV Gadwall Widgeons Blue Winged Teal Shovelers Redheads Ring Necked Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded and RB Mergansers Ruddy Ducks Bald Eagle Wilson's Phalarope (1male) Franklin's Gull Vesper, Song, Chipping, and Swamp Sparrows Bob Heise Chanhassen, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/ccdbd523/attachment.html
[mou] snowy egret at Bass Ponds, Bloomington
Our thanks to Bruce Baer, whom we met sometime before the noon hour: his mention of the snowy egret strengthened my resolve to walk the whole trail to the pond reconstruction beside the Cedar/77 bridge. I'd been wanting, yet fearing, to see the changes made, and had managed to find reasons to evade the walk. Mention of the snowy, however, was all that was needed, as this is a bird I'd missed on several occasions. We were fortunate indeed, because the snowy was very close to the near shore, AND there was a Great Egret right at hand for the obvious size comparison. We saw not only long plumes rustling in the breeze, but also its feet, as it picked its way in shallower waters. Rob managed to get a photo of the two birds together, as well. East of there, there were some Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs on the near mudflats, right by the outlet of the main pond. The outlet itself was swarming with swallows, mostly Tree, but some Rough-winged and Barn among them. Someone pointed out a chimney swift too, giving us a chance to observe how its flight pattern differed from the swallows'. Everywhere, there were yellow-rumped warblers feeding vigorously. Among them, in the marsh east of the stream that exits the ravine, there was a lone orange-crowned warbler, quite outstanding in plumage in the sunlight. It was very busy working the cattails for food. While we were circling this marsh and watching for the orange-crowned, we were treated to flyovers by both a Cooper's hawk and a n. harrier. The weekend certainly ended better than it started. Linda Whyte -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/882cc72f/attachment.html
[mou] Dowitchers
>From the FOREST along the Straight River: This afternoon Kirsten and I birded in Steele County, south and east of Owatonna.The usual until we got east of Owatonna. On Rose Street, 2 1/4th miles west of the entrance to Rice Lake State Park at a water puddle in the field at the intersection of Rose Street and S. E. 64th Avenue. we saw three Dowitchers. One was a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and two were SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Gary Johnson and his wife, from Owatonna, were there, as we pulled up behind their car, and called the birds the same species. Forest and Kirsten Strnad Faribault, MN. - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/1e83da13/attachment.html
[mou] FW: Wilson's Phalarope at 180th St. Marsh, Dakota County
_ From: Laura Coble [mailto:shearwate...@frontiernet.net] Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:13 PM To: 'mnbird at lists.mnbird.net' Subject: Wilson's Phalarope at 180th St. Marsh, Dakota County At 4:30 pm today, just as I was leaving 180th St. Marsh, I found two female Wilson's Phalaropes in breeding plumage. They were on the north side of 180th St., on the east edge of the west pond, close to the road, in the water around a small clump of marsh grass. I've seen very few shorebirds (just Greater Yellowlegs) this spring, and the phalaropes were a beautiful, more than welcome sight! They were very close to the road, alternately grooming and feeding, turning in circles once in a while. They didn't flush, even when a truck sped by, so I was able to view them for some time. They were still there when I left. 180th Marsh is between Fischer Ave. and Dakota County 85. The gravel road of 180th St.east of hwy 52 was in bad condition several days ago, due to recent rain, so it may be easier to access the marsh by driving less than a mile west from highway 85 and 180th St, northeast of Vermillion, MN. There have been large flocks of a wide variety of waterfowl (including a few Horned and Pied-billed Grebes) at the marsh during the past month, as reported by several birders on the listserv. Today the large flocks were gone--just A. Coots, several Green and Blue-winged Teal, and N. Shovelers. I also checked Lake Byllesby in late afternoon, as well, and did not see any shorebirds--just 60-70 White Pelicans, gulls, C.Geese, and A. Coots. The water in Lake Byllesby is higher than it was last week, with some mud flat still there. Laura Coble Cannon Falls, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/98c38e7e/attachment-0001.html
[mou] Ely Migration Correction
Just realized that I put veery on the list when it is hermit thrushes that out in the fields and ponds with the robins. Bill Tefft Parks and Recreation Instructor Vermilion Community College 1900 E. Camp Street Ely, MN 55731 Office Phone: 218-235-2197 Fax: 218-365-7218
[mou] Snow stops migration in Ely
The storm of the past two days seems to have stopped the migrants passing through and there are birds just about everywhere today. The birds that are abundant (in the hundreds or thousands) are: dark-eyed juncos American tree sparrows white-throated sparrows rusty blackbirds American robins fox sparrows The birds that are being seen out in the open in smaller numbers are: veerys Lapland longspurs snow buntings Lincoln sparrows song sparrows killdeer Wilson's snipe greater yellowlegs common grackles There have been a lot of waterfowl concentrated in open water for the past couple of weeks with large numbers of ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, hooded mergansers and common loons. I don't remember looking at a stretch of river and seeing 20 loons like there has been recently. I have yet to see any white-crowned sparrows or Harris sparrows in this movement of birds. This really makes you appreciate the number of migrating birds that pass through an area relatively unnoticed most of the time. Bill Tefft Parks and Recreation Instructor Vermilion Community College 1900 E. Camp Street Ely, MN 55731 Office Phone: 218-235-2197 Fax: 218-365-7218
[mou] Brooklyn Park Lake Suiccess
Today's birds include male and female Red-breasted Merganser, a single Great Blue Heron and about a dozen Double Crested Cormoronts. I wasn't close enough to see the back crest on the Mergansers, but the color markings were strong and distinctive. --- Steve Chesney 8172 Zenith Court Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
[mou] Snowy Egret
There's a Snowy Egret at the Bass Ponds in Bloomington. It is being seen on the east side of the state highway 77 bridge along the shore of Long Meadow Lake. - - - Anthony Hertzel -- axhertzel at sihope.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/4c33b2c6/attachment.html
[mou] 2nd Call for Northern Goshawk monitors
Hi folks, The MN DNR and Hawk Ridge are teaming up to begin a citizen science component to the DNR's Northern Goshawk monitoring program. Gaea Crozier from the DNR has written up a detailed description of the project and what we're looking for in volunteers. Please read the following call for volunteers CAREFULLY, and if you're interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact me at dwaters at hawkridge.org and include the following information: Name Address Phone Email Qualifications related to this monitoring opportunity I'm also happy to answer any questions you may have related to the project. THANKS!! _ Volunteer opportunity with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conducting Northern Goshawk surveys The MN DNR is looking for volunteers to monitor breeding activity in Northern Goshawk territories in northern Minnesota. The territories are primarily located on the Chippewa National Forest, Superior National Forest, and in St. Louis County. Volunteers are needed to choose one or more territories to monitor in 2009, with the possibility of continuing the monitoring in following years. Following a survey protocol, volunteers will survey each territory (500m radius circle) approximately three times a breeding season: once in early March - mid April to determine if goshawks are present in the territory, once in late April - early May to determine if the goshawks are nesting in the territory, and once in late June - July to determine if the nest was successful. Surveys entail searching the territory for the presence of goshawks, examining goshawk nests for signs of activity, and broadcasting goshawk calls to elicit a response. Volunteers will be expected to carefully adhere to the survey protocol and fill out data sheets. Volunteers should have a background in biology, be comfortable identifying forest raptors by sight and sound, have good vision and hearing abilities, be willing to follow the survey protocol carefully, have access to binoculars and XC skis and/or snowshoes, be physically capable of hiking long distances in rough terrain, and be able to navigate using a GPS, compass and map. Volunteers will be provided with survey equipment; however, volunteers with their own compass and GPS are preferred and volunteers must have their own transportation. It is likely that volunteers will be given a modest reimbursement to help with transportation costs, etc. Volunteers will be required to attend a 1-day training session in February or March 2009 in the Grand Rapids area on raptor identification, survey protocol and navigating with a GPS. If possible, the MN DNR would like volunteers to participate in one goshawk survey in 2008 (occurring from March - June) to gain a better understanding of what the goshawk surveys entail and to learn the survey protocol. The location of the goshawk territories is sensitive information, and volunteers must agree that they will not share this information with others. Volunteers should not have a conflicting interest with the project, and any volunteers that are falconers must agree that they will not take young from the nest. If you are interested in receiving more information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Debbie Waters at <mailto:dwaters at hawkridge.org> dwaters at hawkridge.org. __ Debbie Waters Education Director Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory P.O. Box 3006 Duluth, MN 55803-3006 218.428.3539 <mailto:dwaters at hawkridge.org> dwaters at hawkridge.org <http://www.hawkridge.org/> www.hawkridge.org <http://www.hawkridge.org/events/birdathon.html> Great Minnesota Birdathon 2008! <http://www.hawkridge.org/education/ritc.html> Raptors in the Classroom: 8,000 students & counting. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/3e0cd60b/attachment.html
[mou] Saturday and Sunday in Gnesen
What is it called when you don't pay attention and write the wrong thing, even though you really do have a clue about what your talking about, yadda, yadda, yadda...? An amazing natural phenomenon occurred before my very eyes!? The Woodcock in the pond metamorphosed into a Snipe!? As I was watching it!? That type of transformation is a first for my yard!? I think I need to contact the university or the Vatican or something!? Perhaps I should put on some coffee and make a bunt cake, for I will surely be inundated with birders, wanting to see the miracle bird on Church Road!? Sorry.? I'm sure not one person cares about my carelessness except me.? Now I can sleep. Chris -Original Message- From: teamvagr...@aol.com To: mou-net at moumn.org Sent: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 9:08 am Subject: [mou] Saturday and Sunday in Gnesen What a wonderful yard bird weekend, north of Duluth.? The wind has been blowing, the snow flying and the birds looking for something to eat.??I heard one robin tell his wife they need to wait until?MN fishing opener before coming up next year. A mixture of birds have been around that I don't recall in previous years.? From Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks to Woodcock and?Phoebes.? A big herd of Rusty Blackbirds is mixed with the Red Wings and Grackles.??A lone Mourning Dove is trying to fit in with that group as well.??I guess it was inevitable that they would be joined by some Starlings. White Throated, Savanna, Fox, Tree, and Song sparrows are?keeping the airwaves from being?completely dominated by the blackbirds.? ?(all of which are grateful for the "Fox holes".)? The Fox sparrow excavations are?evenly spaced, at approximately 2 feet. I've been expecting a Harris' or White Crowned but nothing all spring - unusual. The poor Woodcock was standing in the pond, looking absolutely ticked at the snow.? Until this morning, I've never seen a Woodcock frown. The Juncos, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Blackbirds, Nuthatches, Redpolls and others showed not a care when the young Eagle flew over this morning at tree top level, but the Mallard made a bee line off the middle of the pond.? The Geese couldn't have cared less.? Wood ducks, Blue Wings, Green Wings, and Hoodies felt safe along the shore I guess.? The Sharpie made an appearance the other day but hasn't shown himself this weekend. There is new down in one of the Wood duck houses.? The other house is still vacant.? Location, location, location.? Perhaps the Kestrels will move back again this year. The flock of 20 or so Robins were resting in the raspberry sticks in the snow this a.m. as the sun rose.? Their orange was really lit up.? I would have made a nice Christmas picture. It's only 9 a.m. and I'm sure there will be more moments to remember the weekend by come sunset. Chris Elmgren Plan your next roadtrip with MapQuest.com: America's #1 Mapping Site. --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Mailing list membership available on-line at http://moumn.org/subscribe.html. - To unsubscribe send a blank email to mou-net-request at moumn.org with a subject of unsubscribe. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/52ed816e/attachment.html
[mou] "Odd" Tree Swallow Behavior?
I know that Tree Swallows are extremely social birds, and migrate in large flocks. However yesterday with the cold snap and high winds, about 25 Tree Swallows crammed themselves into our Bluebird next boxes (which are quite small to begin with). Is this a normal type of behavior for the birds when it gets cold? They shoved so many birds into each box that they couldn't get back out. When we went out this morning we felt it necessary to open up the boxes and we had 15 in one box and 9 in the other. In each box at the bottom there was one casualty that appeared to be both crushed by the birds above it as well as possibly suffocated. There are 2 swallows who appear unable to fly, one looks strong but perhaps dazed and cold, and the other looks injured. Would it be best to try to get the two birds to the rehab center? We tried to put a secondary box out there (cardboard) to help shelter them from the wind and I can pick up the birds without fail and place them in, but they refuse to remain in the box for safety or shelter. Thanks a million! -Sarah Brooklyn Park, MN (Near 610 and W. River Rd.) -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/f36cc470/attachment.html
[mou] To Salt Lake or not to Salt Lake, Little Gull revisited
It was a memorable trip to western MN. Larry Galau and I left early Friday morning in the rain and hit a few spots along the way to Appleton that we could bird by car. By the time we hit the Swift County line the rain was turning to sleet and by the time we hit the Chippewa County line it was turning to snow. Even though it was early afternoon and we had lots of plans for the rest of the day we decided to check into the motel in Appleton and wait out the storm. That turned out to be the right decision as we heard reports of roads closed and cars in the ditches around the area. The next morning it had stopped snowing. We left at 6:30 and drove around Appleton to see how the roads were. There was about 6 inches of wet snow on the ground and the roads were still terrible. We made the decision to head back towards the east as we knew that the area around Salt Lake had received even more snow. We soon realized that the storm had created a bit of a fallout in the area. There were shorebirds huddled in unlikely places. They were all snipe, yellowlegs with an occasional Wilson's Phalarope mixed in. The roadsides were crawling with flocks of LBB's, blackbirds and Killdeer looking for food. At one spot in Chippewa County we stopped the car and watched Chipping, Field, Savannah, Song, Vesper, Clay-colored, and Lark Sparrows that came so close that you barely needed binocs to identify them. At another spot we saw what looked like an immature Little Blue Heron in flight, but it was just too far away to make a positive ID. At about 9am as we drove SE on Co. Rd. 32 in Chippewa County along the east side of Lac Qui Parle we came upon a small group of terns and gulls feeding along the edge of the water. We were a few hundred yards above the dam where Co. Rd. 13 crosses into Lac Qui Parle County. We watched the birds feed repeatedly in this area and had great views of the birds from the car with only our binocs. Larry soon called out Little Gull and we focused on one of the gulls that clearly was not a Bonaparte's. It was a little smaller, with a black head and no eye-ring. The bill was dark and small. The body had a beautiful pink wash. The trailing edge of the wings was white, the undersides were dark gray and the tail was white. We heard only one vocalization which was a short one syllable sound. We watched the bird for a good 10 to 15 minutes as the other birds left the area leaving only the Little Gull to feed. We are probably the only 2 serious birders in the state who don't have a camera with them at all times. Dave Cahlander could have gotten some tremendous shots of this bird. All I know is that when I hear there is going to be a freak snow storm in western MN at the end of April, I'm going to make every effort to be there when it happens. Bob Williams, Bloomington -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/a80bdbb9/attachment.html
[mou] Saturday and Sunday in Gnesen
What a wonderful yard bird weekend, north of Duluth.? The wind has been blowing, the snow flying and the birds looking for something to eat.??I heard one robin tell his wife they need to wait until?MN fishing opener before coming up next year. A mixture of birds have been around that I don't recall in previous years.? From Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks to Woodcock and?Phoebes.? A big herd of Rusty Blackbirds is mixed with the Red Wings and Grackles.??A lone Mourning Dove is trying to fit in with that group as well.??I guess it was inevitable that they would be joined by some Starlings. White Throated, Savanna, Fox, Tree, and Song sparrows are?keeping the airwaves from being?completely dominated by the blackbirds.? ?(all of which are grateful for the "Fox holes".)? The Fox sparrow excavations are?evenly spaced, at approximately 2 feet. I've been expecting a Harris' or White Crowned but nothing all spring - unusual. The poor Woodcock was standing in the pond, looking absolutely ticked at the snow.? Until this morning, I've never seen a Woodcock frown. The Juncos, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Blackbirds, Nuthatches, Redpolls and others showed not a care when the young Eagle flew over this morning at tree top level, but the Mallard made a bee line off the middle of the pond.? The Geese couldn't have cared less.? Wood ducks, Blue Wings, Green Wings, and Hoodies felt safe along the shore I guess.? The Sharpie made an appearance the other day but hasn't shown himself this weekend. There is new down in one of the Wood duck houses.? The other house is still vacant.? Location, location, location.? Perhaps the Kestrels will move back again this year. The flock of 20 or so Robins were resting in the raspberry sticks in the snow this a.m. as the sun rose.? Their orange was really lit up.? I would have made a nice Christmas picture. It's only 9 a.m. and I'm sure there will be more moments to remember the weekend by come sunset. Chris Elmgren -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080427/3eb432f7/attachment-0001.html
[mou] Saturday in the Snow (FOY's)
Birded Mille Lacs County and a bit of northern Sherburne Saturday. First of years: * Lincoln's Sparrow, temporary ag ponds north of Princeton * Franklin's Gull, Lake Fremont near Zimmerman * Purple Martin, west side of Mille Lacs Lake (beginning to open up) * Lapland Longspur (probable, female in interesting plumage), west side of Mille Lacs Lake * Northern Waterthrush (Kathio Park, in roadway - as were many birds during the snowstorm - bit early for northern Mille Lacs County). Good birding to all. Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
[mou] Yellow rumped warblers Duluth, and the North Shore
I also saw a lot of "reverse migration" yesterday around Two Harbors. There was a constant stream of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tree Swallows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Hermit Thrushes flying southwest along the lakeshore and out over the lake. I saw at least 80 yellowlegs (mostly Greaters) in several flocks, all flying southwest along the shoreline. Smaller numbers of raptors and waterfowl were also moving southwest throughout the day. In my yard, I had a flock of about 250 Rusty Blackbirds. Jim Lind Two Harbors - Original Message - Subject: Yellow rumped warblers Duluth, and the North Shore... From: SCmzd AT aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:43:02 EDT Spent at least five hours at Stony Point (North Shore), and Lester River (Duluth), shore fishing. Was amazed by the amount of yellow rumped warblers I saw migrating SOUTH! That's right, well over 200 yellow rumped warblers, over 100 tree swallows, several loons, 10+ tundra swans, sparrows, and a few hermit thrushes, all of them moving down the north shore towards Duluth. It looked and felt like fall migration. That 200 number for the yellow rumpeds is a very conservative est. in my opinion. Happy Birding, and hopefully warmer, Shawn Zierman.
[mou] Cold front shuts down migration
Tonight's weather map shows no movement north of this strong cold front that moved through the upper midwest Friday and Saturday. There is some movement in the Ohio River Valley ahead of the storm front. Tonight's map is posted at: http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com Stay Warm! Roger Everhart Apple Valley, MN www.ncbo.org
