[mou-net] Black-headed Grosbeak update
The photos viewed this evening have confirmed the ID of the grosbeak in Duluth as a Black-headed Grosbeak, either an adult female or more likely a first-winter male. It appeared yesterday afternoon and was still present at the feeders today, and the homeowners have granted permission for birders to visit their yard under the following conditions: - The address is 6219 E Superior St in Duluth: take Hwy 61 through Duluth to 60th Ave East, turn left and go 2 blocks to Superior St, then turn right to 6219 (which is located on the inland side of Superior St). - Please park on Superior St (not in the driveway). - Because of limited visibility into the backyard (where the feeders are) and to avoid disturbing the bird, the homeowners have asked that NO MORE THAN FIVE PERSONS visit at any one time. - Walk QUIETLY up the driveway, and, before coming to the garage, walk to the left to the back door and watch the feeders as you stand quietly by the door. Please DO NOT go any farther into the backyard or closer to the feeders. - DO NOT stand and watch by the garage, which is too close to the feeders and may disturb the bird; note, however, it may be possible to see the feeders and the bird from the driveway before reaching the back door. - DO NOT call the homeowners in advance or knock on the door; anyone is welcome without prior arrangement, again, as long as no more than 5 persons are present at a time. - Be prepared to wait for an hour or two for the grosbeak to appear; today it only showed up at about 2-hour intervals. - The homeowners, Pat and John Thomas, thank you all in advance for your cooperation! Please feel free to give me a call at 218 349 5953 if you have any questions. If time permits later this evening or tomorrow, Jim Lind will be posting the other highlights of today's Duluth CBC. (Among the 60 species recorded were Barrow's Goldeneye, Peregrine Falcon, Great Black-backed and Iceland gulls, Snowy Owl, and Varied Thrush.) Kim Eckert Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] possible Black-headed Grosbeak
Just a heads-up that a possible female-plumaged Black-headed Grosbeak was seen today at a feeder in Duluth. Hopefully, more information will be posted later this evening after photos from previous days can be studied to confirm the ID. The homeowners also have to be contacted to see whether or not access is possible for visiting birders. Kim Eckert Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Black Scoter - Olmsted County - Silver Creek Reservoir
While conducting the Rochester CBC, Jerry Pruett and Rod Bolterman found a Black Scoter in a small area of open water at the Silver Creek Reservoir east of Rochester. It was found late this afternoon. It can be viewed from the north side of the reservoir by driving down a short dead end road (23rd St NE) that heads east of County 11 (one mile south of County 2 and one mile north of Silver Creek Road - and a little over 2 miles north of County 9). The opening in the ice is being kept open by Canada Geese. The opening is far enough out from the road that a scope is needed. Some of the open water is viewable from the point where parking is available but you will probably need to walk a short distance down the road into the WMA to be able to see all of the open water. The bird was originally hanging out in the more open area toward the west side of the opening. The area became less and less open over the time we were viewing the bird as more and more geese came in to stay for the night. I suspect the guess will go out to feed in the morning thus making it easier to locate the scoter. There is also a scaup in the opening as well. I don't believe this species has been reported in Olmsted County before. Congratulations to Jerry and Rod for a great find. Bob Ekblad Olmsted County in SE Minnesota http://www.Birding-Minnesota.com Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Long-tailed Duck in So St Paul
The female long-tailed duck is still in the Mississippi River, So St Paul (Dakota Co) about 1/4 mile north of the pedestrian bridge over the RR tracks at Grand and Hardman. At 3:30 today, it was diving close to the western shore, just below the footpath, allowing for nice views, with the sun behind me. There were also numerous eagles, goldeneyes and common mergansers. Best time to go seems to be late afternoon, and when it's not too windy. Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] About bats, And who is batty?
Hi everyone, No birding trip is complete without at least once stopping the car, backing up, and looking at a "bird-shaped thingy" in a tree, which turns out to be a misshapen branch, a bundle of leaves, etc. It happens with such frequency that we have a word for it: skultch. I'm not sure who first invented and used the term, but it is part of my birding lingo. But like Forest says, we learn by our mistakes and it makes us better birders. We keep looking until we get it right! Good birding! (& Happy CBC-ing!) Dave Bartkey Faribault,MN greathornedd...@hotmail.com > Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:06:42 -0800 > From: prairie...@yahoo.com > Subject: [mou-net] About bats, And who is batty? > To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU > > Greetings: > > Steve Weston got in touch with a PHD candidate from the U. of Minnesota > telling him about my report of a bat in our apple tree. Disappointment > follows high expectations. A person who helps us with filling our seed feeder > looked up at the "bat" today, and was disappointed to have to report to us > that what we thought was a bat was 2 or 3 leaves clinging together. One of > the things I noticed was that neither the "bat" nor the birds bothered each > other. Thanks to Steve Weston for trying to be helpful. Sorry I was wrong. > > Some of my disappointment is that, at my age, I don't get out myself to fill > the feeders and would have discoverd my error sooner. The movement of the > "bat, object" was so rhymical, like breathing. The "bat" was about 20 feet > from our kitchen window. I was looking at it with good, Swarovsky binoculars. > It was this morning that I set up my Elite scope. > > I have had communications, via phone, twice with the PhD candidate. And he > was coming down Saturday to get the"bat". Thankfully I saved him a trip with > my disappointing news. > > Well, all this was not about birds. Sorry for my mistake. So we learn from > our errors. > > Rev. Forest V. Strnad, Faribault, Mn. > > > > > > Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html _ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
