[mou] YTWA re-found
I now have a confirmation that 3 other birders re-found the YTWA in Rachel Lilly Nature Preserve around 7:10 this evening, in precisely the area where Rob and I saw it. One of them alluded to a YTWA's having spent a summer in Acacia Cemetery, not too far away, so there is precedent for having one stay locally awhile. In any case, the site in Rachel Lilly Preserve is similar habitat to that which it inhabits in its home range. If it does stay, let's all make the effort to keep it comfortable, as well as to respect the peace of residents nearby. There are homes off Dodge Lane, and at least one dwelling is right on the edge of the dead-end turn-around that serves as a parking lot for the trail entrance described in the post. The bird itself, while feeding in the upper canopy, is somewhat easily discernible for now, and not too hard to follow, as it moves along branches for longer intervals than many warblers do. (The bright yellow throat grabbed our attention, anyway!) It needn't be subjected to rounds of recordings to be found and enjoyed. In addition, we need to minimize our impact on this lovely place, the access to which is granted by the generosity of Dodge Nature Center benefactors. Thanks to all who checked out this sighting, and to Jennifer and Glen for keeping me posted. Linda Whyte
[mou] St. Paul Empids for My BGBY List
Biking along Mississippi River Blvd at mid-day today, I heard, then saw, the following (among others): Alder Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Wilson's Warbler My 2008 Self-propelled BGBY* list total now stands at 104. I haven't gotten out enough during this great spring migration (only 12 warbler species on the list), but I've seen some interesting birds within walking or biking distance from home, such as: 15 waterfowl species 5 raptors Wild Turkey American Woodcock Carolina Wren Northern Shrike Common Redpoll Pine Siskin How's your BGBY list coming? Julian St. Paul * http://www.sparroworks.ca/bigby.html -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/334e30a7/attachment.html
[mou] Steele County Hwy 45 White-faced Ibis - and Hudsonian Godwit & more
Diane and I went over to Steele County to see the White-faced Ibis that was previously reported by Al Batt and the Vails (thanks for posting the info). We easily found the ibis at the south end of the marsh where we were able to get excellent looks at it as it walked along the open shoreline. It is a very nicely plumaged bird - very striking. We also found an excellent shorebird location in a flooded field just south of the marsh on a dead end road (to the east off of Hwy 45). There was one Hudsonian Godwit there along with many Wilson's Phalaropes, Semi-palmated Plovers and Semi-palmated Sandpipers, some Baird's, White-rumped and Spotted Sandpipers and also a Lesser Yellowlegs. The flooded field was quite close to the road so we were provided with great views of the shorebirds. Bob Ekblad Olmsted County in Southeast Minnesota ekblad at frontiernet.net http://www.Birding-Minnesota.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/1eb2870a/attachment-0001.html
[mou] addendum to YTWA
I've just had a report from Diana Doyle that the YTWA reported by me earlier this afternoon at Rachel Lilly Nature Preserve has not been re-found as of right now, despite her hour-long search plus some looking by Derek Bakken and others. Thanks to all of you who searched; I'm hoping the bird stays around for someone else to spot, despite or because of, current weather conditions. At the time we were there, the general area was somewhat birdy, which was apparently not the case later. In the wooded areas we saw: common yellow-throat (many), house wrens (several), chestnut-sided warbler, yellow warbler, olive-sided flycatcher (2), empids (4), yellow-throated vireo (2), blue-headed vireo, red-eyed vireo, indigo bunting (2), oriole, catbird (2), and more of the usual residents. There was additional variety in the fields and wetlands elsewhere on the preserve. In any case, we learned of a good area for birding, close to home, that we hope to visit often. Thanks in advance to anyone else who checks for the YTWA. Linda Whyte
[mou] Ramsey Co. Orchard Oriole
I had 1 Orchard Oriole along with the few Baltimore's on the road between the halves of Vadnais Lake about noon today.. -- Andrew Longtin Corcoran (Hennepin Co.) Minnesota See My WEB pages at: www.birderguy.com <http://www.birderguy.com/> Email: BirderGuy at comcast.net Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Supporter http://www.hawkridge.org/ Minnesota Ornithologists Union Member http://www.moumn.org/ Cornell Lab Member (PFW) http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw/ Support a Soldier: http://www.operationminnesotanice.com/contact.html -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/7d2fec46/attachment.html
[mou] yellow-throated warbler, Rachel Lilly Nature Preserve, Dodge Nature Center, Mendota Heights, Dakota County
This afternoon, Rob and I encountered a warbler of a singular set of field marks which matched none we'd ever seen before. It was feeding along branches in a large oak beside a stream. At first glance it suggested magnolia or Canada, but no way could we make a total match. Luckily, we had ample time and view to follow it and study its marks: brilliant yellow throat, down to the breast extended mask, with black stripe through the eye, and reaching down the sides of the throat white stripe above the eye white half-ring below the eye white patch behind the mask black stripes extending down white flanks white wing bars clearly visible against gray uppers We have checked the marks against 3 sources: Sibley, Stokes Field Guide to Warblers, and Warblers of the Great Lakes Region. The only match we find is the yellow-throated warbler. I would appreciate someone else checking to confirm, if possible. Directions: From hwy 110 (Mendota Heights-Sunfish Lake- W. St. Paul intersect area), go south on Delaware. Take the immediate right-hand turn west on Dodge (Road, Trail, I forget the term); it will dead-end in a turn-around with a sign labeled "Rachel Lilly Nature Preserve, Thomas Irvine Dodd Nature Center". Follow the grassy trail parallel to 110, as it curves along the treeline. At the bottom of the hill it will turn to cross a wooden bridge over a stream. The bird was feeding in the large oaks to the left of the trail after it crosses the stream. Map link:http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=44.881782,-93.108337&spn=0.003573,0.010042&t=h&z=17 Linda Whyte
[mou] Cerulean/Acadian/sapsucker Rice Co.
Hi All-- Erika and I are just back from a pleasant walk down the east side of the Cannon River Wilderness Park, Rice co. Among the birds we saw were: Cerulean Warbler (calling and clearly seen) Acadian Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (pair entering and leaving nest cavity). dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Northfield, Minnesota http://danerika.googlepages.com/home http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika danerika at gmail.com " the best shod travel with wet feet" "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes "--Thoreau -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/20466fc2/attachment.html
[mou] Birding last week in Breckenridge, Mn. area.
Greetings: We left Monday morning and stopped at the Albany, Mn. sewage ponds There we saw Wilson Phalropes 25-30, Savannah Sparrow, Cliff Swallows, a Willet, and Tree and Cliff Swallows. Across the road from the sewage ponds we saw a Bald Eagle sitting on its nest. Our host and hostess for the week were Gordon and Artis Martinson, with whom we have birded in their area and in our area for the past 20 years. They are good birders, At breakfast Wednesday morning we were happy to see a Black-headed Grosbeak stop by their bird feeder outside their breakfast area. It was so different from the Baltimore and Orchard Orioles that had been feeding on the oranges It was a much darker bird, with more black than the Baltimore Orioles. We noted the short grose bill and that it was eating seeds, not feeding on the orange halves. We had a small warbler wave north of Breckenridge, west of Rothsay including Wilson, Mourning, Magnolis, Yellow, Tennessee and Blackburnian warblers. Martinsons and we noted the abundance of Bobolinks. Friday we birded in Clay County hoping to see the Burrowing Owl as reported by Connie Norheim. We were fortunate in that we did get to see it. It was located about 30-40 feet south of the pile of dirt Connie mentioned. We aso were fortunate that we got to see the Red-headed Woodpecker in a dead tree north of Moorhead across from Oak Mound School. We also found a Sprague 's Pipit and many Marbled Godwits in Felton prairie area. In one of the pot holes south of CR 108, we saw a Common Loon. We noted that there were more Eastern Kingbirds than Western Kingbirds. For four days of birding we saw 101 species. Forest Strnad Faribault, MN.. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/b97960b1/attachment.html
[mou] Itasca County Big Day 5/24
On Saturday, 5/24, Earl Orf, Dedrick Benz, John Hockema, and I did a Big Day in Itasca County. We found 142 species, which is 24 species greater than the previous record. No casual/accidental/rare species were found, but there were some highlights: - 16 species of duck, despite the fact that ducks were virtually absent in the expected places - 21 species of warbler Other fun birds: Peregrine Falcon, Common Nighthawk, American Pipit, Scarlet Tanager, LeConte's Sparrow, Philadelphia Vireo, several Whippoorwills Notable misses: American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Cape May Warbler, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, "reliable" Boreal Chickadees Only a single Double-crested Cormorant found around 8pm, shorebirds were scarce. Shawn Conradhttp://users.2z.net/itasca_chippewa_birding/ _ Make every e-mail and IM count. Join the i?m Initiative from Microsoft. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?source=EML_WL_ MakeCount -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/0d8a86f5/attachment.html
[mou] Red-throated Loon Duluth Mn
I spotted a Red-throated Loon off Lafayette Square boardwalk around 11am. Other Park Pt. Birds: -Ruddy Turnstones (9) -Sanderling (1) -Bonaparte Gulls (70) -Black-bellied Plover (1) * Despite the rain and chilly temperatures there were no signs of any significant migration movement along Park Pt. Heard reports from other birders that the Brant was seen this morning at Bayfront Park.? For those that have no idea where this park is located: -Take I-35 into Duluth -Get off on?the Lake Avenue Exit. -Take a right on 5th Ave. West (stoplights) -Take the?right exit before the Aquarium entrance. -Take a left on Railroad Street and park in the parking lot just west of children's park and walk over the berm towards the main stage. Look for the Brant?on?the lawn or in the bay. I added these directions because?a birder thought?the bird was at the ballfield at Park Point.? Hopefully these directions will those that have not made the trip up to?see this Brant.? In?spring of 1980 (?) Kim Eckert showed me my first Brant at Park Pt. and I clearly remember how that brant was also?had a high tolerance for people?that came near it. Mike ? Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/5573c31d/attachment.html
[mou] Yard (Oven)bird ing today in Hastings
Hi all, While sitting on our deck this morning, we had a better day than when we went to 200th/Ravenna Trail Yesterday. We saw or heard five warbler species, including Ovenbird, Tennessee, Hooded, Yellow and Northern Parula. The Yellow and Northern Parulas landed in the tree above our deck and we were able to get good looks at them. The others we ID'ed using our iPods. Here's our list so far: House Finch American Goldfinch Black-capped Chickadee Ovenbird Northern Parula American Robin Northern Cardinal House Wren Downy Woodpecker Yellow Warbler Tennessee Warbler Hooded Warbler Baltimore Oriole Richard Richard L. Wood, Ph. D. Hastings, MN rwoodphd at yahoo.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/59eafaa0/attachment.html
[mou] White-faced Ibis-Steele County-still present
The White-faced Ibis was still present this morning between 6:00 & 7:10. Location: Straight River Marsh-Steele County-Ct Rd 45 Sited on Southeast bank then flew to Northwest bank.(for a much closer look) Rebecca Vail pretty neat guy :) -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/cb2eb621/attachment.html
[mou] Indigo Bunting in Bemidji
I had the pleasure of watching a brilliant male Indigo Bunting come and go from a feeder for a couple hours Saturday. I was at a friends home on the north side of Lake Bemidji. Another friend called to say they had a Scarlet Tanager in their yard Friday morning on Big Turtle Lake. I may be wrong, but it seems we have a variety of birds this spring I don't remember seeing in the past, and it has been great. I am not a serious birder, so maybe some of the local experts could say if this is true or not. It might be because we have no leaves yet (very late) and they are easier to see, but I haven't seen an Indigo Bunting here in years. We have also had Cardinals, which often stay south of Bemidji, and quite a few Orioles. It has been a fun, colorful spring here. I would also like an ID from better birders here.is this a female Baltimore Oriole, or an Orchard Oriole female? http://www.pbase.com/spatterson/image/97487989 Thanks Steve Patterson
[mou] Live From Steele County
There was a White-faced Ibis today on the Straight River Marsh along Highway 45 between Ellendale and Owatonna in Steele County. Good luck. Al Batt **Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod000302) -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080525/c9930dc6/attachment.html
