[mou-net] Best bird while not birding
Kind of a double header: driving to the wedding of my sister-in-law in Maple Grove with my mother and young daughter, I noticed something odd flying parallel to our road. Trying to drive and look (don't tell my wife!), it looked like two birds flying side by side. As we continued, the bird(s) gradually were getting closer and something still wasn't quite right. As I drew up to a stop sign, a peregrine falcon landed on the top of a telephone pole at the intersection, with a drake Bufflehead in its talons. The Bufflehead was still looking up at the falcon as defiantly as it could; it had been still trying to fly as the falcon landed which is why it looked so odd. Reality struck when my mother commented that she had never seen a bird with such brilliant red on its chest. I had to tell her it isn't usually red Tough way to see my first Bufflehead. The standoff was still in progress when I had to head to the wedding. Still the best pair of birds through the sun roof! Mark LaRose 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
A Bald Eagle soaring outside a hotel window while attending a professional seminar in Northern Arizonia! (-I still have a blank page in my notes!) Claudia Anders --Original Message-- From: Bill Kahn Sender: Minnesota Birds To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU ReplyTo: Bill Kahn Subject: Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? Sent: Aug 8, 2011 7:30 PM Long before I even started birding and while attending the University of California at Santa Barbara (darned ornithologists who taught zoology courses that I took for my anthro major made me do it for labs; now I can't quit), I was working out on my bicycle on a frontage road of the Pacific Coast Highway in Goleta where I lived, I scared up a jack rabbit in the brush who shot off ahead of me, parallel to the road. The rabbit was scooped up directly in front of me by a Red- tailed Hawk who had spotted the rabbit while soaring over the area and swooped down for it in typical Red-tail fashion. It was a great workout ride, one of my best. Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding?
My best bird while not birding occurred when I was a kid, many years before I became a birder. I grew up in Golden Valley. My dad built our house on 2 acres and there was a large field behind our house. One winter day my mom came and got me and told me to look out back. There sitting on a stump was a large white owl. It sat there the entire day. The only thing it could have been is a Snowy Owl! Rick Hoyme rho...@comcast.net LinkedIn Profile http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhoyme 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
Long before I even started birding and while attending the University of California at Santa Barbara (darned ornithologists who taught zoology courses that I took for my anthro major made me do it for labs; now I can't quit), I was working out on my bicycle on a frontage road of the Pacific Coast Highway in Goleta where I lived, I scared up a jack rabbit in the brush who shot off ahead of me, parallel to the road. The rabbit was scooped up directly in front of me by a Red- tailed Hawk who had spotted the rabbit while soaring over the area and swooped down for it in typical Red-tail fashion. It was a great workout ride, one of my best. 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
My first exposure to nature when I moved to MN from Oklahoma! I was out at Grand Forks AFB managing a project of installing deep wells and assessing base contamination. I was collecting samples from a monitoring well in late May in the morning after a rainy night. Puddles were everywhere. As I did my field work at the well, I noticed something move to my right. I froze as I watched a Long-billed Dowitcher "Singer sewing machine" its way through puddles not far from me. I stood frozen as in Oklahome such a bird is rare indeed. I was afraid that any movement would make it fly away. As I stood there, it continue "sewing machine" its way closer and closer. I could barely breath or blink. Then as I stood there, the bird worked its way right between my legs I had this rush of OMG and then as I found that I could move (I was supposed to get some work done!) and that the bird could care less. I said to myself "I'm not in Oklahome anymore." I didn't even watch the bird continue on its way as I went back the chore of collecting groundwater samples from the well. What a great preview of what I was in for in my move to the birdie land up north. By the way - please sign up for the MOU booth at the fair. Prime spots are still available. Bring your kids to staff the wheel while you interact with the birding public and the touch-screen computer. You can become an expert in as little as 2 minutes the way it is set up for easy use. Thomas Maiello Angel Environmental Management, Inc. Maple Grove, 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] Thanks re: Harris's Sparrow
Wow! Thanks to the many who responded to my Harris's Sparrow question. I will be using much of the good feedback. Pete - aka - Sky the BirdMan Anoka, 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
Re: [mou-net] Blue Grosbeaks and other notables in southwest MN
I too had good numbers of HESP in Blue Mounds earlier this spring (3-4 males). Saw BLGR there as well. Eric Harrold From: Bob Dunlap To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Sent: Monday, August 8, 2011 5:07 PM Subject: [mou-net] Blue Grosbeaks and other notables in southwest MN Bob Williams and I spent some time birding in the southwest corner of the state yesterday and today. Perhaps what was most interesting to us was the number of Blue Grosbeaks that we found (this has to be one of the best years for this species in MN). All of the birds were males either heard singing or seen perched in the following locations: Jackson County - one singing yesterday along CR 23, 2 miles south of Jackson (second county record) Nobles County - at least one, maybe two birds yesterday on the power lines along CR 6 a half mile west of CR 4 Rock County - two singing at Blue Mounds State Park this morning south and east of the lake/picnic area on the north side of the park, another singing at the intersection of 90th Ave. and 171st St. Pipestone County - one on the power lines this morning along CR 2 a half mile east of Ihlen, another singing north of the Edgerton sewage ponds Also of interest in Rock County were two Henslow's Sparrows on the north side of Blue Mounds State Park. Both were heard singing this morning; one can be heard from the park road near the bison viewing platform, and the other can be heard about 100 yards south of the lake/picnic area parking lot along the prairie trail that parallels the bison fence. This species has shown up in an impressive number of southwest counties this year. Yesterday there was also an early Red-necked Phalarope in the western-most pond (which is apparently being drawn down) of the Hills sewage ponds in Rock County. Bob Dunlap Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Blue Grosbeaks and other notables in southwest MN
Bob Williams and I spent some time birding in the southwest corner of the state yesterday and today. Perhaps what was most interesting to us was the number of Blue Grosbeaks that we found (this has to be one of the best years for this species in MN). All of the birds were males either heard singing or seen perched in the following locations: Jackson County - one singing yesterday along CR 23, 2 miles south of Jackson (second county record) Nobles County - at least one, maybe two birds yesterday on the power lines along CR 6 a half mile west of CR 4 Rock County - two singing at Blue Mounds State Park this morning south and east of the lake/picnic area on the north side of the park, another singing at the intersection of 90th Ave. and 171st St. Pipestone County - one on the power lines this morning along CR 2 a half mile east of Ihlen, another singing north of the Edgerton sewage ponds Also of interest in Rock County were two Henslow's Sparrows on the north side of Blue Mounds State Park. Both were heard singing this morning; one can be heard from the park road near the bison viewing platform, and the other can be heard about 100 yards south of the lake/picnic area parking lot along the prairie trail that parallels the bison fence. This species has shown up in an impressive number of southwest counties this year. Yesterday there was also an early Red-necked Phalarope in the western-most pond (which is apparently being drawn down) of the Hills sewage ponds in Rock County. Bob Dunlap 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
A yellow throated warbler on the deck of the restaurant at the resort in Mexico A Kiskadee on the patio of my hotel at the same resort. (I chased all over Texas and never found one--but in Mexico I could not count it) -Original Message- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Engh Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 10:03 AM To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: Re: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? Philadelphia vireo outside my office window in Arden Hills. Peregrine falcon perched on ledge of the Minneapolis Midtown Exchange Bldg above the party room during my daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner. Black throated blue warbler hitting the family room picture window in Wayzata and sitting dazed for several minutes on the sill before flying off. Mike Engh On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher wrote: > Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. > > Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow > during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie > Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting > relatives - sure there have been others. > > You? > > Al Schirmacher > > > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] MOU-NET Digest - 6 Aug 2011 to 7 Aug 2011 (#2011-217)
A summer tananger while reading. Ray Potthoff Spring Valley - Original Message - From: "MOU-NET automatic digest system" To: Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 12:03 AM Subject: MOU-NET Digest - 6 Aug 2011 to 7 Aug 2011 (#2011-217) There are 7 messages totalling 212 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Eastern Bluebird 3rd hatch 2. Best Bird While Not Birding? (2) 3. Blue Earth Co Buff-breasted Sandpipers 4. early migrant or? 5. palm warbler at Carpenter Nature Center 6. Shorebird workshop results Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html -- Date:Sun, 7 Aug 2011 08:47:48 -0500 From:"john c. nelson" Subject: Eastern Bluebird 3rd hatch Our Eastern Bluebird successfully hatched her 3rd set of eggs this morning. The four nestlings appear to be doing well. Through daily observation at the mealworm feeders and direct observation via the nest cam there is no doubt all three hatches were by the same pair. We know the first four fledglings (from five eggs) survived. Survival of the second hatch of five is uncertain as the extreme heat caused some to leave the nestbox early. We have seen two from that hatch being fed in nearby trees. 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 -- Date:Sun, 7 Aug 2011 09:36:08 -0500 From:Al Schirmacher Subject: Best Bird While Not Birding? Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a= meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while read= ing in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there ha= ve been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html -- Date:Sun, 7 Aug 2011 11:32:25 -0500 From:linda whyte Subject: Re: Best Bird While Not Birding? Many, over the years, though no species as exceptional as those. Most recently, yesterday: arriving at my pet-care gig at a friend's house 2 blocks from home, a pair of Merlins in the conifer in her yard. Linda Whyte On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher wro= te: Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention =A0dinner - Violet-green Swallow du= ring a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon whi= le reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure = there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html -- Date:Sun, 7 Aug 2011 12:44:10 -0500 From:Ron Erpelding Subject: Blue Earth Co Buff-breasted Sandpipers Found 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at the large Blue Valley Sod Farm located east of Mapleton, MN on the north side of Co Rd 21/132th St, just west of Co Rd 14/615 Avenue at 5:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Ron Erpelding Willmar, 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 -- Date:Sun, 7 Aug 2011 12:49:46 -0500 From:Tom Bell Subject: early migrant or? Last Friday (Aug. 5) we banded a hatching year Palm Warbler at Carpenter = Nature Center. It is either an early migrant or from parents that nested = below their known breeding area.=20 We have no records of observing Palm Warblers at the Nature Center this = summer. =20 Tom Bell Grey Cloud Island 5868 Pioneer Rd. S. St. Paul Park, MN 55071=20 651-459-415 Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html -- Date:Sun, 7 Aug 2011 13:08:05 -0500 From:Larry Sirvio Subject: palm warbler at Carpenter Nature Center On Friday a very young palm warbler was banded. I don't remember seeing = palm warblers in August before and this one didn't even have all his = wing feathers in yet. Pic at: http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?op=3Dshowcase Larry S Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dmou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html -- Date:Sun, 7 Aug 2011 17:31:31 -0500 From:Doug Buri Subject: Shorebird workshop results Bob Janssen and I just finished our three day shorebird workshop. We had = a list of 16 shorebird species: Kil
[mou-net] Clay-colored Sparrow Aberration
Birding today confined to yard. Numerous Clay-colored nest here; I enjoy them but, by August, mono-pitch buzz-buzz-buzz becomes a bit anti-climactic. So today, when a Clay-colored launched a brief jazz riff (two measures), I was shocked. However, it quickly returned to boredom. Wonder if it was a juvenile:) Al Schirmacher 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] Fun weekend birding get away!
My Husband and I just had a fun birding weekend in Horicon, Wisconsin that I thought I'd share for those who don't know about the Horicon Marsh. This is a HUGE marsh that is partly owned by the State and partly Federally owned. Most of the marsh isn't accessible by car but you can bike, hike, canoe, etc. in designated areas. There is an auto loop on the northern end that has a huge floating boardwalk. You can experience the marsh via pontoon boat from the Blue Heron Landing in town. They have one hour boat tours, one and a half sunset cruises, and two hour birding boat excursions. The "Captain" of the pontoon boat is VERY knowledgeable about the area birds and knows all about the area as he was very young (I believe he said 11 years old) when he gave his first tour. His Father started the business. He has a good ear for birds that you can't see but can identify by sound. He also has a great sense of humor. We stayed at the Audubon Inn which was built in 1896. The rooms are very charming and the Inn's Restaurant is excellent. The best time to go would be the month of May but we definitely enjoyed seeing the Sandhill Crane, Egret, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Black Tern, Wood Duck, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Robin, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chicadee, etc. 36 different birds were seen on the birding cruise with others heard but not seen. We even found baby swallows in their nest being fed by Mom! CUTE! Horicon, WI also has Bird Festival in May which is supposed to be worth going to. Linda and Kevin Krueger www.FlightOfNature.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] Harris's Sparrow Question
Hello - Does anyone know if the Harris's Sparrow migrates back through Minnesota? I missed it as it migrated through this past spring. I would really like to find this bird this year. Thanks. Pete - aka - Sky the BirdMan 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] western MN shorebirds, Henslow's Sparrow, et al.
The MBW (Minn Birding Weekends) group had 16 shorebird species this past weekend in Stevens-Big Stone-Lac Qui Parle Co's. Coincidentally, this is the same total posted by Doug Buri (with most of their birds apparently in SD): they recorded Am Avocet and Red-necked Phalarope which we did not see, while we found Semipalmated Plovers and Buff- breasted Sandpiper (missing from Doug's list). The Buff-breasted was in a flooded field along Hwy 7, 3.5 mi S of Beardsley, Big Stone Co. Other productive mudflats were: the drawn- down David Steen WMA in Big Stone Co (2 mi W and 2.5 mi S of Clinton; note the directions on the DNR website are incorrect); the small flooded area 2 mi S and 2.2 mi W of Bellingham (Lac Qui Parle Co); and several flooded fields in N Stevens Co, especially along 120th, 130th, 140th and 150th streets W of Donnelly, and along CRs 20 and 5 E of Donnelly. The Henslow's Sparrow we found that Doug referred to was singing just E of Plover Prairie SNA in Lac Qui Parle Co: S side of 370th St, 2.8 mi E of Hwy 75. Also of note on our MBW were: 4 Sandhill Cranes ~3 mi E of Appleton along Hwy 59 (Swift Co); Loggerhead Shrike 1 mi E of Hwy 75 on 370th St (Lac Qui Parle Co); and singing Eastern Meadowlark along the U of M Morris entrance road off Hwy 59 (Stevens Co). A few early fall migrant passerines also turned up (Olive-sided and Alder flycatchers and Tennessee Warbler), 2 Dickcissels were found, there was a big movement of Bobolinks (e.g., a flock of 40+ in Morris), and Orchard Orioles were at numerous locations. Kim Eckert ecker...@gmail.com http://www.mbwbirds.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] Blue Earth County Sunday
Trent and Jack Robbins, Andrew Krenz and I got out for ab Hey birders, Trent and Jack Robbins, Andrew Krenz and I got out for about 4 hours of birding on Sunday morning. Here are the highlights: The Blue Grosbeak continues to sing from the treetops by the gravel quarry on the south side of Hwy 68 west of Minneopa State Park. He sang from the Box Elder on the southwest corner and some of the trees in the quarry itself. We also had Lark, Clay-colored, Chipping, and Field Sparrows as well as Eastern Towhee and Warbling Vireo there. We relocated three young Common Gallinules (formerly moorhens) at the previously mentioned location (535th Ave south of Hwy 60) along with a female Ruddy Duck with 3 young. We visited the new Lincoln WPA at the corner of CR32 and CR128 to see if there was any shorebird habitat. There was. Enter on the gravel drive off of CR128 and you will find a little water. We had both yellowlegs, Solitary, Spotted, and Semipalmated Sandpipers there as well as Bobolink and Western Meadowlark. There were probably about 30 shorebirds there total. This WPA is still under construction and largely consists of dead weeds right now. Those of you who remember when the Perch WPA was under construction and the amazing shorebirds there at that time may want to add this site to your "places to check out". We then drove quickly over to the Cobb River WPA and vicinity to look for more shorebirds. The awesome CR16 flooded field is almost dry. There were a few Killdeer and Semipalmated Sandpipers there though. The CR168 pond to the east of there (past Lakewood Drive) is excellent. We had over 100 shorebirds including Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted, Least, Semipalmated, Pectoral, and a single Stilt Sandpiper. There were also several Canada Geese, Ring-billed Gulls, and some Franklin's Gulls. One other bird worth mentioning: Eurasian Collared-Dove in Lake Crystal near the martin houses along CR60. Happy birding! Chad Heins Mankato, MN "But ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" --Job 12:7, 9 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
A number of years ago I was working at Dayton's Distribution Center which was in a huge warehouse. One day a golden-crowned kinglet got into the building and was frantically trying to find an exit. Another birder who also worked there and I were able to throw a shirt over the bird when it landed on some equipment. We brought it over to Wildlife Rehab which was still at the U of M at the time and very close to the warehouse. The bird was checked over and released the next day. Gail On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher wrote: > Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. > > Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow > during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie > Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting > relatives - sure there have been others. > > You? > > Al Schirmacher > > > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Martin County shorebirds - including Ruddy Turnstone
North of Sherburne/I90 on Hwy 4 at CR132/32 there are hundreds of shorebirds including pecs, solitary, yellowlegs, and a few peeps - and also Franklins & Ring-billed Gulls. Just west of there along 132 there is another wetland where I also found Ruddy Turnstone, Semi-palm Plover and Sanderling. Sent from Bob Ekblad's iPhone Byron, MN - Olmsted County 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] Best Bird While Not Birding? Maybe.
I n May, I was walking through the parking lot at Rosedale late in the afternoon, no binoculars handy, when I saw three birds soaring near the intersection of Hwy. 36 and I35W. Two were clearly crows but what was the third larger bird? It was very dark, unlike juvenile eagles although the relative size did make me consider that. Maybe a raven, but it didn't look quite right for that either and it would have been a bit too far south for a raven . Looking towar ds the sun and with no bins, I was unable to identify the bird by eye but it was intriguing. The nex t day, a Black Vulture was reported and photographed in North Oaks, only a few miles as the vulture flies from where I saw the mystery bird. Was that the bird? Perhaps but I'll never know. Jeanne Tanamachi Lauderdale MN - Original Message - From: "Al Schirmacher" To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Sent: Sunday, August 7, 2011 9:36:08 AM Subject: [mou-net] Best Bird While Not Birding? Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure there have been others. You? Al Schirmacher Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
Philadelphia vireo outside my office window in Arden Hills. Peregrine falcon perched on ledge of the Minneapolis Midtown Exchange Bldg above the party room during my daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner. Black throated blue warbler hitting the family room picture window in Wayzata and sitting dazed for several minutes on the sill before flying off. Mike Engh On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher wrote: > Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. > > Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during > a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while > reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure > there have been others. > > You? > > Al Schirmacher > > > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Best Bird While Not Birding?
A bit of a tough question to answer, because I'm 'always birding', especially if I'm out and about!* * One thing I've found about being a birder, which is being observant, is it's hard to shut it off!* *But here are my best while out doing something else: * White-winged Scoter *- while attending a wedding (on the shore of Lake Superior) Also saw a *Common Loon* & *Alder flycatcher*at the same wedding! *Yellow-headed blackbird *- at a job interview (it was a lifer at the time - no I didn't get the job) Yes, I had a lifer during a job interview!! How many can say that? *Peregrine Falcon* - twice while at work -once an outdoor picnic, 2nd just pausing to look out the window on a break - it flew right in front of me and looked right at me! *E. Screech-owl -* one morning at home I heard blue jays making a racket. I went out to investigate and this was the cause of their ruckus, right in my front yard! -- Sincerely, Jim Ryan Saint Paul's Westside One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken. -* Leo Tolstoy* A well governed appetite is the greater part of liberty. - *Lucius Annaeus Seneca* On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Al Schirmacher wrote: > Sometimes the best birds show up while doing something else. > > Golden Eagle at a business convention dinner - Violet-green Swallow during > a meeting break (both pointed out by non-birders) - Prairie Falcon while > reading in my chair - Tri-colored Heron while visiting relatives - sure > there have been others. > > You? > > Al Schirmacher > > > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > 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] Best Bird while non-birding:
This may make some cringe. I don't know if this counts, but I've seen some of my best birds while pheasant/duck hunting. I've seen dozens of short/long-earred owls. I kicked up a Wilson snipe in January once. Another time I had a Prairie Falco make a failed pass at another Wilson Snipe that I had kicked up in a small drainage. -- 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
Re: [mou-net] Best bird while non-birding: two merlins at an outdoor wedding
One Saturday afternoon, when we lived in Logan, Utah, we had just returned from a shopping trip to Ogden. We were coming in the house with our purchases and were in the kitchen, when I looked out the door that went onto the deck and spotted a large object in the back yard, perched in a dead tree. I approached the deck and grabbed binoculars-it was a Golden Eagle! That was probably the best bird I ever got while not birding-probably also my best yard bird ever. Richard From: Claudia Egelhoff To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Sent: Monday, August 8, 2011 8:02 AM Subject: [mou-net] Best bird while non-birding: two merlins at an outdoor wedding As the wedding vows were being said at a beautiful site along the lake shore in Door County, WI., two juvenile merlins flew around and called raucously. Henceforth to be known as "the merlin wedding" by the few birders present among all the guests! -- Claudia Egelhoff Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Best bird while non-birding: two merlins at an outdoor wedding
As the wedding vows were being said at a beautiful site along the lake shore in Door County, WI., two juvenile merlins flew around and called raucously. Henceforth to be known as "the merlin wedding" by the few birders present among all the guests! -- Claudia Egelhoff Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
