[mou] FW: snowy owl in Grand Marais
Norm runs the banding program of Snowy Owls in Boston's Logan Airport and is very experienced and knowledgeable on their behaviors. Geese are definitely on the menu. -Original Message- From: Norman Smith [mailto:nsm...@massaudubon.org] Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 7:13 AM To: Alt, Mark Subject: RE: [mou] snowy owl in Grand Marais Mark, I have seen snowy owls take brant geese and have a photo of one taking a Canada goose. Have a great day, Norman -Original Message- From: Alt, Mark [mailto:mark@bestbuy.com] Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:13 AM To: Norman Smith Subject: FW: [mou] snowy owl in Grand Marais Do you have experience or stories with Snowies and Geese? -Original Message- From: mou-net-boun...@moumn.org on behalf of Ann and Wayne Russ Sent: Wed 11/5/2008 9:06 PM To: MOU Cc: aruss at isd166.k12.mn.us Subject: [mou] snowy owl in Grand Marais Our fifth grade class spent the morning watching a snowy owl at the Grand Marais Harbor near the Coast Guard Station Wednesday. We found the Canada Goose carcass that it had been standing on the night before (when our teacher first saw it ). We observed the owl standing along the water's edge west of the Coast Guard buildings, flying, and perched on the large rocks on the East Bay side. It flew to the rocks near the west harbor break wall about an hour and a half later. We're wondering about the owl and the goose it ate. A goose seems so large for a snowy owl to catch. Can anyone tell us if this is normal? Ann Russ' fifth grade class --- 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.
[mou] further Long-billed Murrelet notes/Link to Ithaca, NY photos Dec 2001
Here is an interesting web page with many photos of a Long-billed Murrelet that visited Ithaca, New York in December 2001.Especially note that the white broken eye ring so evident in Sibley is difficult to see in the field/photos. I did not notice it on the Park Point bird.Also, the photos illustrate the unique diving behavior that Lars, Tony and I witnessed every time the bird dove.http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/lbmurrelet.htmSparky Stensaas 2515 Garthus Road Wrenshall, MN 55797 218.341.3350 cell sparkystensaas at hotmail.com www.stoneridgepress.com www.kollathstensaas.com www.sparkyphotos.com _ See how Windows? connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/119463819/direct/01/ -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20081106/99df64b6/attachment.html
[mou] Duluth: Park Pt.
Went to Park Pt. before work this morning and saw the following birds: - Barrow's Goldeneye was located in the park?just beyond the entrance on the bay side.? - White-winged Scoter -?Surf Scoter All the above birds are all mixed together with a fairly good size raft of Common Goldeneyes.?The?weather today?is rainy with very strong winds?from the east.? I did make a effort to see by chance if I could locate the Long-billed Murrellet?on Lake Superior thinking that?MAYBE the murrellet could be pushed up against the shore?IF the?bird was still around but?came up empty in my search.? I did check the bay in various locations but again I was not able to relocate the murrellet.? With this front moving thru our area with cold temperatures rushing behind this front, it will be interesting?to see what birds could be found?when the weather calms down..? We are due for a Black-legged Kittiwake?!! 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/20081106/84204999/attachment.html
[mou] Comment on EUWI, Hennepin Co.
At 1:45pm today (Nov. 6) I viewed the Eurasian Wigeon at North Anderson Lakes. It was easy to pick out among the hundreds of other wigeon and Gadwall present due to the overcast gray sky and uniform light conditions. It was about 200 m distant and mostly resting. At this distance, the dark reddish head appeared uniformly colored, ie. there was no darker area behind the eye suggesting hybridization with American Wigeon. The dark area behind the eye shown in the Recently Seen photo by D. Cahlander is apparently an artifact of lighting condition causing a shadow in this region. I looked for traces of the creamy forehead stripe bleeding into the cheek area below the eye which often shows in hybrid EUWI and AMWI, but could see none, at least at this distance. I also looked for any sign of black bordering at the base of the bill (an AMWI characteristic), but again, at this distance could see none. Upper parts, flanks, tail and breast all appeared consistent with a pure Eurasian Wigeon. Now, regarding origin... Jim Eagan
[mou] Ode to Alpha Codes
The topic of Alpha codes is one that is periodically "discussed" here. It also came up on the North Florida Listserve and someone posted a link to a humorous poem about Alpha Codes. Here is the link. http://www.calpoly. <http://www.calpoly.edu/~mstiles/code.html> edu/~mstiles/code.html Earl Orf www.earlorfphotos.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20081106/7e5de51c/attachment.html
[mou] [rba] MOU RBA 6 November 2008
-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *November 6, 2008 *MNST0811.06 -Birds mentioned Eurasian Wigeon Barrow's Goldeneye Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon Snowy Owl Northern Hawk Owl Black-backed Woodpecker Summer Tanager -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota Statewide Date: November 6, 2008 Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://moumn.org Reports: (763) 780-8890 Compiler: Anthony Hertzel (axhertzel at sihope.com) This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, November 6th 2008. Up in Duluth, Lake Superior is still hosting at least two RED-THROATED LOONS, one PACIFIC LOON, and an adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. The goldeneye, which was initially found on November 1st, is being seen on the harbor side of the lake near the entrance to the main recreation area. Both Pacific and Red-throated Loons are also bening reported from the western side of Mille Lacs Lake. Since November 2nd, an adult male EURASIAN WIGEON has been seen along the north shore of North Anderson Lake in Bloomington, Hennepin County. On November 2nd, a NORTHERN HAWK OWL was just south of the town of Togo in northern Itasca County. It was at mile marker 207 of state highway 65. And a SNOWY OWL is being seen in Grand Marais, Cook County. Another BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was found in southern Minnesota. This one was in the conifer plantation in Carleton College's Cowling Arboretum in southern Dakota County on November 2nd. A Black-backed Woodpecker is still at Sherburne NWR in Sherburne County, along the Blue Mound Trail where the path turns right toward Buck Lake. A SUMMER TANAGER is still being seen in Two Harbors, Lake County. It was most recently found at South Avenue and First Street. The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, November 13th 2008. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20081106/a0a3935e/attachment.html -- next part -- ___ mou-rba mailing list mou-rba at moumn.org http://moumn.org/mailman/listinfo/mou-rba_moumn.org
[mou] Dunlin flock at Sandy Point Co. Park (Jackson Co.)
Today, I observed a flock of 20 or so Dunlins on the "point". In adjacent farm fields, there was a flock of Lapland Longspurs and sparrows were well represented today with Savannah, Song, American Tree, and Fox mixed in with the very abundant Junco flocks. ? Eric Harrold Lakefield, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20081106/55f18bc7/attachment.html
[mou] [rba] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, November 6, 2008
-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *November 6, 2008 *MNDL0811.06 -Birds mentioned Sharp-tailed Grouse Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Rough-legged Hawk Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Gray Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Red-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet American Tree Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Rusty Blackbird Pine Grosbeak Purple Finch White-winged Crossbill Pine Siskin -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes Date: November 6, 2008 Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours) Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjoppru at wiktel.com) This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, November 6, 2008 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also hear this report by calling (218)847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888. Winter birding has begun in the northwest as lists get smaller and it can be argued, the quality gets better! Weather late this week is deteriorating with snow predicted for the weekend. With the time change, we have gained back our weekday evenings, as it is too dark to do anything outside after work. It's time to get the record keeping up to date. Owls are being seen this time of year. Greg Knutsen at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County saw a SNOWY OWL at Parker Pool along CR 7 on November 6. On a quick trip to the Thief River Falls wastewater treatment ponds after early voting on Tuesday, I found a SNOWY OWL and two COMMON RAVENS at the southwest corner of the ponds. Bob Steffes, a visitor to the area on Monday, saw four GREAT HORNED OWLS along Polk CR 21/ Pennington CR 3 between East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls. Shelley Steva reported a GREAT HORNED OWL in Plummer, Red Lake County, on October 31. Dan and Sandy Thimgan reported that the CAROLINA WREN that was reported a couple of weeks ago showed up again in their yard in Otter Tail County on November 5. Other species seen there this week included up to 45 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and 100 PINE SISKINS. Jim and Charlene Nelson in Elbow Lake, Otter Tail County, reported a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, HARRIS'S SPARROW, PINE SISKIN, and PURPLE FINCH , all at their feeders on November 5. Mark Otnes saw 20 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS north of the entrance to Buffalo River State Park in Clay County on November 1. Also in the area were 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 12 SNOW BUNTINGS, LAPLAND LONGSPURS, and 8 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. Marshall County sightings on November 2 included SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, and several NORTHERN HARRIERS and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. A flock of 25 AMERICAN CROWS was seen along CR 7. A similar sized flock was seen along that same road in Pennington County. In Beltrami County on November 2, I saw several BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIERS, and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, as well as one PILEATED WOODPECKER, and several BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES. Lake of the Woods County sightings within the Beltrami Island State Forest on November 2 included BALD EAGLE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GRAY JAY, COMMON RAVEN, and PINE GROSBEAK. Thanks to Bob Steffes, Greg Knutsen, Jim and Charlene Nelson, Mark Otnes, Shelley Steva, and Dan and Sandy Thimgan for their reports. Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjoppru at wiktel.com OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled update of this report is Thursday, November 13, 2008. Jeanie Joppru Pennington County, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20081106/a8830179/attachment.html -- next part -- ___ mou-rba mailing list mou-rba at moumn.org http://moumn.org/mailman/listinfo/mou-rba_moumn.org
[mou] [rba] Duluth RBA 11/6/08
-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *November 6, 2008 *MNDU0811.06 -Birds mentioned Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon Golden Eagle Glaucous Gull Long-billed Murrelet Snowy Owl Northern Hawk Owl Bohemian Waxwing Summer Tanager Hoary Redpoll -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore Date: November 6, 2008 Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) Reports: (218) 834-2858 Compiler: Jim Lind (jslind at frontiernet.net) This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, November 6th, 2008 sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. A possible LONG-BILLED MURRELET was found on the 4th by Peder Svingen on Lake Superior at Park Point near the Sky Harbor Airport. Despite extensive searching on the 5th and 6th it could not be relocated. Peder found a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on the 1st on the harbor side of Park Point between 31st Street and 43rd Street, and it was still present on the 6th. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and SURF SCOTERS have also been seen with flocks of COMMON GOLDENEYES in the same area during the past week. Two PACIFIC LOONS and at least two RED-THROATED LOONS continue to be seen on Lake Superior between the Park Point Recreation Area and the Lafayette Square 31st Street access. A first-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was seen on the 5th at Canal Park. A record high count of 53 GOLDEN EAGLES was tallied at Hawk Ridge on October 31st. The female SUMMER TANAGER in Two Harbors was seen on the 2nd in the wooded alley north of the 200 block of 4th Avenue, after being seen the day before about four blocks way on South Avenue. A PACIFIC LOON was found on the 2nd on Burlington Bay out from 1st Street, and a RED-THROATED LOON was found at Agate Bay on the 1st. Both birds were still present on the 3rd. A HOARY REDPOLL was seen on the 1st at Lighthouse Point, and a small flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen on the 300 block of 2nd Avenue. A SNOWY OWL was found in the Grand Marais harbor on the 1st, and possibly the same bird was seen on the 4th and 5th. At least 60 LONG-TAILED DUCKS and two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen at Five Mile Rock northeast of Grand Marais on the 2nd. BLACK SCOTERS were still present in the Grand Marais harbor on the 2nd. Dee Kuder found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on the 1st in northern Itasca County just south of Togo at mile marker 207 of MN Highway 65. The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, November 13th. The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858. Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded message. The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us at mou at moumn.org, or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20081106/c647ff75/attachment.html -- next part -- ___ mou-rba mailing list mou-rba at moumn.org http://moumn.org/mailman/listinfo/mou-rba_moumn.org
[mou] Cattle Egrets, Hutchinson (McLeod County)
This morning (11/06) at work a coworker asked me what all the "little white cranes" in the parking lot were. Looking out the window I saw a group of 15-20 Cattle Egrets standing in the grassy median between two of the parking lots at Hutchinson Technology. I saw them off and on at different locations between 8:30 and 10:00am, but I have not seen them since, and a search of the surrounding fields after work did not reveal anything. Good birding, Josh Christian _ Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/119462413/direct/01/ -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20081106/4cf48027/attachment.html
