[mou-net] In the Yard Sunday...
...I was doing some gardening in the almost freezing weather this afternoon, when I heard a call other than the White-throated Sparrow flock that had been working its way through. We also had a nice wave of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and I had already seen several Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Black-and-White Warbler. Then I heard a call that I couldn't place, around to the front, near the pond that is threatening, in all this rain, to take over my lawn. Walking around the house, I heard it again. That sounds almost like a waterthrush, I thought. Hmmm. Went round to the car for the binoculars I keep there. Didn't have my glasses on, but my prescription sunglasses were there, so I put them on. The bird called again. I moved closer to the pond, and waited. A red squirrel ran across a log, and the White-throated Sparrows kept flitting by. At first they were a distraction, but after about 10 minutes of standing in place, I caught a glimpse of a small, dark bird flying around a log at water level. Landed and in a couple minutes I found it again. It was singing, and sure enough, the tail was tipping, tipping, constant movement. That's all I saw of it, but I can picture the rest. In my minds' eye I see a creamy streaked breast and belly, a long white eye stripe, fast, sure movements to grab food from the water and the mossy, water-soaked logs. It sure pays to know your songs. Holly Peirson Columbus, SE Anoka Co. 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] Forster's terns
Two Forster's terns flying over the FOC at French Regional Park in Plymouth this morning. Nick Tangen Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile 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] a yard full of birds
It was a dark and stormy Saturday...as I sat sipping coffee Saturday morning, looking out over my backyard landscaping, I was astonished to see a flock of 60+ sparrows chicken scratching in my mulch - One White-crowned adult male, the remainder were White-Throated Sparrows, as near as I could reckon, with 34 males of the white stripe variety, three males showing tan supercilium, and the remainder (23+) were females... Birds in the White Pine above them: Yellow-rumped Warblers (too many to count?), Ruby-crowned Kinglets (5) and two Palm Warblers. The two thin notes that start the White-throats' song were audible through the windows I was viewing them - the lower notes could not be heard - there were so many singing, it was quite a cacophony - I didn't want to open a window as these birds were all within 25 feet of where I sat - they stayed for an hour then moved on. Mark Alt Brooklyn Center, MN P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail 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] 15 Warbler Sp.+other migrants-Winona
This weekend brought in the first big wave of migrants to Winona. The viewing conditions are excellent, in that most trees haven't even started flowering. Woodlawn Cemetary, the area between USFWS McNally Landing and Verchota Landing (on Prairie Island Drive), and the Deer Park (on Prairie Island Drive) were very active. Species of note: Warbling Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Marsh Wren House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Warblers: Tennessee Nashville Orange-crowned Northern Parula Yellow Black-throated Green Yellow-rumped Palm Pine Black-and-white American Redstart Common Yellowthroat Northern Waterthrush Louisiana Waterthrush Ovenbird Scarlet Tanager Lincoln's Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Heath Hamilton Winona 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] FOY Bluebirds
Two male and one female FOY Bluebirds, Dam Lake St. Aitkin Co. 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] clay-colored sparrows, Northeast Minneapolis
Relatively quiet today at Boom Island Park and Nicollet Island, but notable FOY for me: clay colored sparrow buzzing away in the mini-prairie near the river, plus on my way home heard one in the park behind my house- never have heard one there before. Also saw a brown thrasher in a yard near Boom Island. Karen Kraco Minneapolis, 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
[mou-net] Hooded Warbler photos
Hi All--I have posted the photos of yesterday's Hooded Warbler on my blog: http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com I have not seen the bird today. Yesterday our neighbor photographed the bird in her backyard and noticed that it was banded. As many warblers are doing in this cold weather, the Hooded Warbler fed on the ground in her grassy backyard. dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Northfield, Minnesota http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika daner...@gmail.com the best shod travel with wet feet Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes --Thoreau 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] Smith's Longspur, Lac Qui Parle County
On Friday afternoon USFWS biologists Mike Green, Stephanie Jones, Bill Howe, Tom Will, and Eric Kerschner found a single alternate-plumaged Smith's Longspur in the NW quadrat of the Yellow Bank Hills State Natural Area, a 78-acre hilly site on the east side of Pegg Lake. Observers also found and photographed a Hog-nosed Snake doing its dead opposum act., quite the impressive act The Smith's appears to be a new species for this small, scenic site. The site is located on the west side of County Route 7 in Augusta Township. ** Robert P. Russell Division of Migratory Birds Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive Ft. Snelling, MN 55111-4056 Phone: 612-713-5437 FAX: 612-713-5393 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] White-crowned Sparrow and Pine Siskins - Hennepin County
Golden Valley, Hennepin County 2-May-2011 at 10:00 am CT I observed (through my 10x42 EL bins from 50 ft) a single adult White-crowned Sparrow ground feeding below my backyard feeders, among a half-dozen White-throated sparrows. Field marks conformed to all field guide illustrations for this species, most noticably a black and white striped crown with the lack of any white below the bill, and the lack of any yellow markings. I also observed two Pine Siskins at feeders over the weekend, interesting since there have been no visits from this species since the winter of 2009/10. Hans Koch Saint Croix Cir Golden Valley MN 763-529-9256 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] Minn Birding Weeks/Weekends update
The MBWbirds website (http://mbwbirds.com) has been updated today, May 2, with the status of all registrations for this season of MBWs (Minnesota Birding Weeks Weekends). Although some MBWs are already filled, there are still vacancies on several others, including this month's Minnesota River Valley and Kidder County MBWeekends, and one vacancy each on the upcoming Point Pelee and Churchill MBWeeks. Also note that the summary of the recent South Florida MBWeek is now included, and an additional South Texas MBWeek has been scheduled for Dec. 26, 2011 - Jan. 1, 2012. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Kim R Eckert ecker...@gmail.com http://www.mbwbirds.com (Note: This is the 26th season of MBWs, which are offered in association with the MOU – we were originally known as MOU Birding Weekends. The MOU annually receives a portion of MBW receipts in return for these updates on mou-net and in the Minnesota Birding newsletter.) 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] Rebirth
Two wonderful male Palm Warblers this a.m.. The great thing about being in a new locale is it's like you're starting birding all over again. The old WoW factor comes back. -- Hackensack/Longville Cass County, 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
[mou-net] Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive and Question
Hello! We went for a drive along the Wildlife Drive in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge on Friday. Here is what we saw: Two Eagle Nests - The Stickney Pool Nest and another across either Bergerson Pool or the School House Pool Trumpeter Swans Canadian Geese Tree Swallows Indigo Bunting Ring-necked Duck Question: Out in the middle of the Nelson Pool between mile marker's 4 and 5 there was an all black duck perched on a tree. When I zoom in on the pictures I took the picture gets distorted. But based on the shape of the beak and body it seems to be a Black Scooter. Can anyone else verify this duck being in the area? Or tell me if I have identified it incorrectly? Be happy to forward my pictures but again they are not clear. Also zooming in on pictures once I was home and had uploaded them, I realized I took a picture of one of the adult eagles and an eaglet! in the Stickney Pool nest. Again the picture gets blurry but I didn't even realized the little guy was there until I zoomed in! :) Also enjoy the antics of the sunbathing turtles and a grooming Muskrat. :) Happy travels! Michelle 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] western Washington County
A fairly quick pace through Katherine Abbot Park in Mahtomedi yielded tons of birds. Besides the usual, I noticed lots of bluebirds, black and white warbler, white crowned and white throated sparrows, ruby-crowned kinglet, belted kingfisher, green heron, turkeys, deer and a beaver! I need more birding hotspots east of and near White Bear Lake! Ideas? Mary 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] Phalaropes Medina
On the way home tonight I spotted some Phalarope's spinning out in the water on a flooded field, the field is on the east side of Holy Name Dr. between Medina Rd. and County Road 24.. I didn't have a spotting scope with me so I don't know what kind they were.. There are Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler there still also. -- Andrew Longtin Corcoran (Hennepin Co.) Minnesota See my WEB pages at: http://www.birderguy.com www.birderguy.com Email: mailto:birder...@comcast.net birder...@comcast.net Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Supporter http://www.hawkridge.org http://www.hawkridge.org Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Member http://www.moumn.org http://www.moumn.org Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) Member http://www.hmana.org http://www.hmana.org Cornell Lab Member (PFW) http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw 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] 9 Ibises and American Avocet, Nicollet County
This afternoon Chad Heins and I observed 9 ibises in flight over the WMA 1 mile north of the town of Nicollet on the east side of Hwy. 111. Viewed from below it was nearly impossible to discern any color details on the birds, but in all likelihood these were White-faced Ibises. The birds never landed while we watched, and eventually flew west out of side (in the direction of nearby Swan Lake). We also flushed an American Avocet from the shallow wetland furthest north; walk the trail east of the gravel parking lot and follow it as it curves north around the first wetland to the second one on your left. In the grasses north and west of these ponds were many sparrows, including a migrant Le Conte's. Bob Dunlap, Nicollet County 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] Urban Birding Festival
Urban Birding Festival offers free fun for everyone The Urban Birding Festival, a free, fun celebration of birds and springtime on May 12 to 15 includes 19 nature walks at sites in St. Paul and around the metro area. A day-long Bird Expo on May 14 at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley features bird exhibits, bird-banding demos and a lunchtime talk by Jan Dunlop, author of birder murder mysteries. The festival is designed for everyone—families with kids are especially welcome—and no previous experience is required. Just show up for any event that interests you. Check the St.Paul Audubon web site, www.urbanbirdingfestival.org , for a full schedule of events and maps to sites, many of them hidden gems in the metro area. 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] Longbilled Dowitchers
On a trip from Mapleton to Albert Lea and back, we had a nice encounter with 10 Long-billed Dowitchers working in a flooded farm field near Freeborn. On return stopped at in-laws east of Lura Lake and looked at photos they took yesterday of a male Baltimore Oriole and three Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (2 M 1 F) which visited their feeders yesterday. The real highlight was their photos of a beautiful male Cattle Egret which spent the day with them, at one point walking within feet of their bedroom window. Their Black Lab, an experienced hunter, was totally at a loss as to what the thing was doing in their yard. John Nelson Good Thunder 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
[mou-net] Stearns County Monday PM
On the way home this evening, I pulled along the roadside (CR 9) just south of the Avon exit from I-94, to take a couple of quick shots of a green heron. I LOVE green herons - they're such an interesting bird with cool hunting techniques. I was so absorbed with the heron I almost missed my FOY SOLITARY SANDPIPER in the same spot. At the Upper Spunk Lake County Park (about 1.5 miles south of I-94 on CR 9) there were over 50 yellow-rumped warblers flitting around, and an osprey hunting in the area. Don't ya just love spring? Betsy Beneke Avon, Stearns County 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] Lake Calhoun
Hi all, I stopped by Lake Calhoun for a little look after work. Spotted a good number of Horned and Pied-billed Grebes, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Yellow-rumps. Also present was a lone Red-necked Grebe, a Spotted Sandpiper and a Common Loon. -- *Thanks, Nicholas R Tangen (651) 808-7067 nicholastan...@gmail.com In wildness is the preservation of the world. - Henry David Thoreau* 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] FOY's Duluth MN
This afternoon at my feeders I had first of the years a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-crowned Sparrows, and a Swamp Sparrow... also still have 2 Common Redpolls! Regards Don Kienholz 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] 180th Street Marsh, Dakota County
I was in Lakeville this evening, so I took a quick spin over to the area around Vermillion. The highlight was a 180th Street marsh packed with birds. With ducks flying over constantly, blackbirds singing from the reedbeds, and a cacophony of birds all around, I was able to see or hear the following shorebirds as the light fell. They all appeared to be settling in for the night. 24 Willet (tough to get an accurate count in the low light) 10 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Snipe 1 Wilson's Phalarope 1 Solitary Sandpiper Ducks were abundant, with large numbers of Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, and Mallard, and smaller numbers of Shoveler and Lesser Scaup. Loads of coots as well, and calling Pied-billed Grebe. Over the din of the Red-winged Blackbirds, I could hear a number of Yellow-headed Blackbirds singing, but couldn't see any of them. I was amazed by how active the marsh was, and wished I had more light and time to look over the birds. The habitat there right now is fantastic, and a daytime visit with a scope would probably yield greater diversity. Good birding, Matt Dufort Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
