[mou-net] Live from Freeborn County
Snowy Owl near Love's truck stop off I-35 outside Albert Lea. A Northern Shrike hovering at the intersection of 255 St. And 810 Ave. near a mini-flock of Red-winged Blackbirds. Flock of Snow Buntings near that same site yesterday, always nice to see on such a lovely day. Al Batt Your Hartland correspondent Sent from my iPad 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] Glaucous-winged Gull, Duluth
Beginning at 9:43 this morning, I have been studying an apparent adult Glaucous-winged Gull at Canal Park, Duluth, St. Louis County. I say apparent because of the many complications inherent in identifying large gulls, especially this species. Since Glaucous-winged Gull forms hybrid swarms with multiple other species of gulls (including Glaucous, Western and Herring), where the majority of some local populations are actually hybrids, great must be taken when identifying this species out of range. For now I have posted a single photo on MOU recently seen, but will include a more in depth analysis on my pbase gull pages (www.pbase.com/karlbardon). Karl Bardon Duluth, 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] 9 Golden Eagles seen in Winona and Houston counties
Yesterday I met with Scott Leddy of Meadowlark Restorations who is actively and passionately involved in restoring bluff prairie habitat. He wanted to show me some of the work that they have done as he knows how I talk about how golden eagles utilize this type of habitat. We concentrated our looking in an area basically from Rushford to Houston to Wilson to Wyatviille. While looking at the habitat work he has done and other bluff prairies, I was able to show Scott some golden eagles as well. I had done some looking for golden eagles before and after meeting Scott, so for the day I was able to see 9 golden eagles. Eight were adults and were "paired up" and perching near each other or just a couple of trees away. Only one of the adults and the sub adult were the only ones observed in flight, making it difficult to find these birds unless you know where to look, and what I find so interesting is that it is the same bluffs or even the same trees that I have seen birds using for the past seventeen years that I have visiting these areas. If anybody is interested in helping with the 8th Annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey which takes place on January 21st 2012, we still have some routes open in Houston and Fillmore counties. There are just as many golden eagles to be found in those areas, so if you would like to help with the survey and advance our knowledge on this wintering population, just let me know. Last year we had over 100 surveyors count over 80 golden eagles in south east Minnesota, north east Iowa and western Wisconsin. THANK YOU, Scott A. Mehus Education and Eagle Research Director NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER 50 Pembroke Avenue Wabasha Minnesota 55981 651-565-4989 ext. 101 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] Aitkin Co Great Grey Owl
I saw a Great Grey Owl on my way to work this morning, along Kestrel Ave north of Tamarack. Cindy Risen 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] Bemidji CBC -Varied Thrush!
The Bemidji CBC was held last Saturday, Dec 17th. Weather conditions were favorable for the 12 participants and we tallied 34 species with three additional species for count week. Judging from the numbers it would appear that the mild temperatures and lack of snow cover is having an impact on the "normal" movement of winter birds and late migrants. Highlights included a Varied Thrush, Evening Grosbeaks, N. Shrike, Magpie and Brown Creeper. High numbers of Junco and Canada Goose and the lack of Waxwings and Pine Siskins were noted. Three additional species were recorded for count week, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Cardinal, and Hoary Redpoll. A big thanks to our faithful and trusty team of veteran counters and a warm welcome to our newest participants, Chuck and Danielle, and Valkyrie. Canada Goose (85) Mallard (2) Common Goldeneye (1) Hooded Merganser (2) Ruffed Grouse (2) Bald Eagle (10) Rough-legged Hawk (4) Rock Pigeon (99) Mourning Dove (8) Barred Owl (1) Red bellied Woodpecker (3) Downey Woodpecker (12) Hairy Woodpecker (10 Pileated Woodpecker (8) Northern Shrike (2) Blue Jay (60) Black-billed Magpie (1) American Crow (52) Common Raven (32) Black-capped Chickadee (293) Red-breasted Nuthatch (18) White-breasted Nuthatch (32) Brown Creeper (2) American Robin (1) Varied Thrush (1) -has been at a private residence on the east side of Lake Plantagenette European Starling (97 Dark-eyed Junco (21 Pine Grosbeak (15) House Finch (6) Common Redpoll (151) Pine Siskin (2) American Goldfinch (92) Evening Grosbeak (13) English House Sparrow (23) Kelly Larson The Bagley Farm -Clearwater The Bemidji Loft -Beltrami Minnesota Eschew Obfuscation! The middle of Nowhere is Somewhere! 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] Northern CBC's
For those with a sense of adventure the following CBC's will be held after Christmas: Baudette- December 29-email Martin Kehoe for details (mvke...@aol.com) Beltrami Island - December 30- email Martin Kehoe for details ( mvke...@aol.com) Roseau - December 31-participants meet at 7am the the Roseau Diner We could use help on all of them. Jeanie Jeanie Joppru Pennington 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] Duluth gulls
The unseasonably warm weather in Duluth has certainly been to a seagull's liking- besides the adult Glaucous-winged Gull, there are currently many gulls in the Duluth harbor. Last Saturday on the Duluth CBC we conservatively counted 1750 Herring Gulls (twice the previous record), and on Sunday I counted over 2500 Herring Gulls in the harbor. Also present are at least 4 Great Black-backed Gulls (1 adult, 1 third-cycle, 1 second-cycle, and 1 first-cycle), at least 5 Iceland Gulls (2 first-cycles, 1 third-cycle, and 2 adults), at least 18 Thayer's Gulls (2 first-cycles, 3 second-cycles, 3 third-cycles, and around 10 adults), and at least 14 Glaucous Gulls (10 first cycles, 2 second-cycles, and 2 adults). Three Ring-billed Gulls hanging on to the season brought today's count to 7 species of gulls. The best place to see these birds is at Canal Park in the early afternoon. I posted some additional Glaucous-winged Gull shots at www.pbase.com/karlbardon, as well as some of my favorite gull shots from this season thus far. I have yet to finish sorting the overall number of individual gulls as I have done in the past, but the totals number of less common gulls has not been as high as last year. My thanks to Peder Svingen for helping to convince me today's bird really was a Glaucous-winged. Previous Minnesota records include an adult in the Twin Cities from 19 October-24 December 1995, a second-cycle bird at Duluth-Superior from 26 November-13 December 1997, and a first-cycle bird at Grand Marais on 1 December 1997. Karl Bardon Duluth 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] [mou-rba] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, December 22, 2011
-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *December 22, 2011 *MNDL1112.22 -Birds mentioned Canada Goose Ruffed Grouse Sharp-tailed Grouse Greater Prairie-Chicken Sharp-shinned Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Snowy Owl Northern Shrike Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Brown Creeper Varied Thrush Eastern Towhee Harris's Sparrow Northern Cardinal Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll Evening Grosbeak -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes Date: December 22, 2011 Sponsor: Lakes Area Birding Club, Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Reports: 1-800-542-3992 (weekdays during business hours) Compiler: Jeanie Joppru (ajjop...@q.com) This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday,December 22, 2011 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. Still there is no snow in the northwest, and we are seeing evidence that it will change the species lists for the Christmas Bird Counts in the area. Some commonly seen species are fewer and there will be some surprise laggards from the summer populations. It should be an exciting year for the CBC. The Bemidji CBC in Beltrami County was held on December 17 and 34 species were seen. Highlights included a VARIED THRUSH at a private residence on the east side of Lake Plantagenet. Other species seen included SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BROWN CREEPER, NORTHERN CARDINAL , HOARY REDPOLL, and EVENING GROSBEAK. Shelley Steva reported that as of December 19 two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS continued to be seen near Plummer in Red Lake County. In Polk County, Sandy Aubol reported on December 21 that the EASTERN TOWHEE and two HARRIS'S SPARROWS continue to come daily to her feeders in East Grand Forks. Emily Hutchins was in Polk County from December 9- December 12 where she found a SNOWY OWL on December 12 along MN 9 south of US 2. Other species she mentioned were SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS, RUFFED GROUSE , BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, and more than 12 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS in and around the Chicog WMA. Mel Bennefeld found a COMMON RAVEN on the Pondorosa Golf Course in Clay County on December 20. >From Hubbard County, Marshall Howe observed a NORTHERN SHRIKE east of Lake George along MN 71 on December 21. On the 20th, he saw ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, COMMON REDPOLL, and one HOARY REDPOLL in Hubbard County. Brad and Dee Ehlers reported on December 17 that 8000 CANADA GEESE are using the Orwell Reservoir in Otter Tail County southwest of Fergus Falls. Thanks to Brad and Dee Ehlers, Emily Hutchins, Kelly Larson, Marshall Howe, Mel Bennefeld, Sandy Aubol, and Shelley Steva for their reports. Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than Thursday each week, at ajjop...@mncable.net 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 Wednesday December 28, 2011. Jeanie Joppru Pennington 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] Cedar Creek Bog CBC
more on the Red-headed Woodpeckers from the people from Cedar Creek Bog Ecosystem Science Reserve: An addendum to Steve's RWHO observation directions - the public trails he refers to are the Fish Lake Nature Trails. These are accessed via the parking lot at the very northern end of Durant - the road will hook to the right and you'll find a large parking area with information kiosks and an opening in the fence. The trails you see along Durant are not the public trails he references. However, if you post yourself on the Durant side of Gate 12 or 13, you have a good chance of seeing them flit between trees. On the Fish Lake Trails, take the main trail to the lake, then turn left and follow the trail along the lake shore. They are usually seen in the savanna area to the left, as you walk the first bit of the trail with the lake on your right.-- Steve Weston swest...@comcast.net Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
