[mou-net] Kunkel WMA
Late grosbeak, first Rough-legged of fall, two Harris' Sparrows at Kunkel WMA, southern Mille Lacs County, off 95 on Saturday afternoon. 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] Wood Duck nest boxes
Birders: Is there anyone out there willing to help a few St. Paul elementary school children build a few Wood Duck nest boxes? If so, send me an e-mail, please. Bob Holtz 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] Purple Sandpiper Present @ 7:45 am
The Bird was seen until I left at 8:30am. Very beautiful shorebird. Alex 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] Purple Sandpiper still present 12:30pm Sunday
As of right now the Purple Sandpiper is actively foraging all over 230th Ave. between the two bodies of water in Swift County. A bit odd seeing it right in the middle of the road I must say. 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
[mou-net] Death of Ben Thoma
The Oct 16 Star Tribune had an obit for Ben Thoma of Willmar a long-time MOU member. Ben taught biology at Willmar (now Ridgewater) Community College and was a naturalist at Itasca State Park. Manley Olson 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] Mini-Review The Big Year
Ignore the Strib pan of The Big Year and go see it, before it's gone. The movie is based on the book about the 1998 competition between Sandy Komito (Owen Wilson), Al Levantin (Steve Martin) and Greg Wilson (Jack Black) to break Komito's 1987 big year record for the ABA area. I met Komito when he was doing his 1987 big year, and birded with him on Attu in 1990. Wilson does a good job of capturing his intensity, quirkiness and humor. How you will feel about this movie probably depends a lot on your opinions about listing and big years, days, months, etc., but Iris and I loved it! I had dragged her to many of the locales that are de rigeur if you are list-building, like the Brownsville Dump and Patagonia, that are shown in the movie. Isabella Rosellini's spot-on impression of Annie Auklet just nails Debbie Shearwater and her pelagic empire. There are plenty of ornithological improbabilities - particularly on Attu - but if you want to know what Attu was like in the 90's - or would enjoy seeing it again, GO now - The Big Year will probably not be in theatres for long. Warren Woessner 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] Summer Tanager in Duluth
Chris and I (and Kim Eckert) have been watching a Summer Tanager in our yard this afternoon. We first noticed it drinking out of the bird bath and later it hung around eating what looked like yellow jackets from under the eves of our neighbor's house. It appears to be a female. We're at 31 E. Arrowhead Road (corner of E. Arrowhead and Vermilion Rd) in Duluth. People are welcome to stop by and look for the bird but it may have already moved on. We've also had a White-crowned Sparrow today among the many Dark-eyed Juncos and yesterday, a Fox Sparrow, hanging out with them. -- Cindy and Chris Edwardson 31 E. Arrowhead Rd. Duluth, MN 55803 218-724-6357 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] Still lots of Fox Sparrows at MN Refuge Rapids Unit
While birding with Craig Mandle and others at the MN Refuge, Rapids Unit in Carver MN. We found dozens of Fox Sparrows throughout the trails that lead out from the Visitor Center. Also found were White- throated Sparrows, 1 Lincoln Sparrow, 2-3 Harris Sparrows, 2+ Song Sparrows, 1 White-crowned Sparrow, 3+ Orange-crowned Warblers, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Eagles (Juv. and 1 adult), and 20+ Dark- eyed Junco's. Kathryn Young Minnetonka, 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] Carlos Avery, sunday
Because October hunting season opens up the southern portion of Carlos Avery's roads and trails, this is a good time to hike there---provided, of course, you wear some blaze orange. Along with the year-round residents, there were Sharp-shinned Hawk, E. Bluebirds, E. Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Fox sparrows, D-E Juncos, and many of both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. There was also a very co-operative Rusty Blackbird, feasting on a fat grasshopper in the road, that gave good looks at its light eyes and the russet scalloping on its dark feathers-- a FOY for me. Linda Whyte Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
