[mou-net] Birding about
Today (Wednesday) I was making a delivery at a dock in Shakopee when I noticed a couple of swallows flying about. I expected that they would be Barn Swallows, which I often find nesting in the shelter of under utilized docks. But, these were Northern Rough-wings, which are cavity nesters. They were flying up under truck trailers that were parked and left at the dock. I had seen this before, but had dismissed it when I saw House Sparrows also fly up and under. But, I found the swallows were utilizing small shelves built into the undercarriage of the trailers that created cavities. Interestingly, the birds were carrying small pieces of wood. I have since found out that unlike Bank Swallows (also cavity nesters), No. Rough-wings build their nests on a base of twigs. I ran my frog & toad survey tonight. It was cool and most of the ponds were relatively quiet, but I still found five species of frogs and toads sings. Marsh Wrens were activily calling. I did not find any Whip-poor-wills calling in the area where I always find them. On the way back through Red Wing, I heard Nighthawks downtown. All through the western suburbs I am finding extensive stands of the noxious exotic weed Leafy Spurge along the highways. It is easily recognizable with its greenish yellow flowers. You can get a close up view of it on the median of the Crosstown at about France Avenue. -- Steve Weston On Quigley Lake in Eagan 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
[mou-net] BB Plover and Ruddy Turnstone, Ramsey County
I'm currently looking at both a Black-bellied Plover and a Ruddy Turnstone on the beach of the northwest side of White Bear Lake out from Lake Ave. and 10th St. 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] Connecticut Warbler, Roberts Sanctuary, Mpls
Caught fleeting glimpses in undergrowth along fence to cemetery, about 400 yards in from western entrance. Though only ten feet off path, very hard to spot. Swainson's Thrush caught my attention with chip note and warbler popped into view. Managed one great look--boldest eye ring I have seen on a warbler. First timer for me Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry 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 - Wabasha Co
I found a first county record Hooded Warbler at the kruger trail area in wabasha county at 10:30 this am. when entering kruger stay to the left and drive back to the shelter. park here and walk back on the trail staying to the right at the Y. walk to the first bridge. the bird spent much time in the canopy singing. it was not acting like a migrant bird but more like a potential nesting bird. Andrew Nyhus Winona, MN WWW.andrewnyhusphotography.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] Westwood Bird walk
We had a fun entertaining morning of birding despite cloudy windy conditions at Westwood hills nature center!! 52 species were seen including a noisey Virginia rail which gave us 5 minutes of good views, and a Red Tailed hawk sitting on a branch being harrassed by a pair of Northern Orioles and hardly moving a feather while they dive bombed him! Also pileated WP,Olive sided Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, and a pair of Blue winged teal. At the New beautiful pond at the center bldg a pair of Mallards entertained us in the courtship by the male dunking the hen under water etc! Lol! Thx to Tom,Bill,Ann judy, Ruth and Cindy for sharing a great AM of birding! Also Good Day Cafe for the Goodies and the staff of WW hills for their hospitality!! Vic Lewis Back for the summer!! 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] listserv sightings and recent warbler/songbird photos to share
Last week, I spent 10 days in Ohio attending the Biggest Week in American Birding Festival, based out of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory. This bird observatory is adjacent to the renowned Magee Marsh (Oak Harbor, OH), where incredible movements of warblers and many other songbirds take place during the month of May. The link below contains my favorite photos from the festival. Enjoy! www.pbase.com/birdfedr/the_biggest_week_in_american_birding_festival__2012 I have enjoyed seeing the movement of birds coming through Minnesota over the past few weeks, through having internet access every few days while out on the road and checking the Minnesota listservs. I highly recommend The Biggest Week in American Birding festival for anyone interested in checking out impressive movements and views of warblers next May, and currently going on is the exciting Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival in Ashland, WI! Spring time is so much fun with bird migration. I am excited to see what birds are setting-up-shop for the summer months, back up in Duluth. Good birding, Erik Bruhnke Waukesha, WI -- *NATURALLY AVIAN* - Guided Birdwatching Trips and Bird photography www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.naturallyavian.blogspot.com birdf...@gmail.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] Cerulean on MOU Big Day trip
Currently looking at a Cerulean Warbler considerably north of its normal range in Kathio State Park, Mille Lacs County. 19th warbler on day, with Sherburne NWR still to go. Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Sent from my iPhone 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] Hubbard County - Western Kingbirds
I was checking out Doug Kieser's MOU database report of a Western Kingbird south of the Park Rapids airport (Hubbard County) late this windy afternoon and was surprised to find one on a fence rail in spite of the windy conditions. I was even more surprised when it flew up into a nearby tree where there was a second Western Kingbird. The birds are along the road on the south side of the airport (turn west off of highway 71 south of town). They were in front of a residence just a short distance east of where CR2 goes south. Thanks Doug! 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] MOU Big Day Trip
A small group of intrepid birders met at Rice Lake Refuge @ 3:30 AM for a relaxed Big Day in Aitkin, Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties. Highlights among 129 species included: * Sharp-tailed Grouse on CR 1 * 20 warbler species including Cerulean at Kathio State Park * White-rumped Sandpiper on ML Lake Unfortunately only one Yellow Rail was briefly heard by the guide only before the trip began. 'Twas a good group on a beautiful day! Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Sent from my iPhone 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] New to the list... Blackpoll Warrbler Blue Earth County
Hi Our first post to the list. We photographed what we think is a Blackpoll Warbler yesterday and also on the 10th in our grove. My daughter says its not a common bird so I thought I'd post it here. We are not sure how rare a bird has to be to post on this list?? If anyone is familar with birding around Swan Lake area near Mankato Id like to get some hints as well as canoe launch sites which are easy to get to and good to bird at?? Mike Rista 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, May 17, 2012
-RBA *Minnesota *Detroit Lakes *May 17, 2012 *MNDL1205.17 -Birds mentioned Greater White-fronted Goose Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Common Loon Western Grebe American Bittern Cooper's Hawk Sora Sandhill Crane Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Willet Hudsonian Godwit Marbled Godwit Long-billed Dowitcher Red-necked Phalarope Caspian Tern Black Tern Eurasian Collared-Dove Barred Owl Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Western Kingbird Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Common Raven Cliff Swallow Sedge Wren Marsh Wren Veery Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Golden-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Palm Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson's Warbler Eastern Towhee Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Harris's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak -Transcript Hotline: Minnesota, Detroit Lakes Date: May 17, 2012 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, May 17, 2012 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. Birds continue to pour north at a quick pace now that the wind has gone to the south and southwest. New this week are many of the insect eaters such as flycatcher, vireos, and some new warblers. Trees are almost fully leafed out, and warbler watching is difficult, and will be even more so if we get rain. Brad and Dee Ehlers in Otter Tail County reported AMERICAN REDSTART, ORCHARD ORIOLE, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK on May 10. On May 14, Alma Ronningen saw a SANDHILL CRANE pair with 2 colts. Also seen that day were BLACKPOLL and YELLOW WARBLER. On May 15, she had two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, GREAT CRESTER FLYCATHER, RED-EYED VIREO, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, VEERY,GRAY CATBIRD, CAPE MAY WARBLER, and PINE SISKIN. INDIGO BUNTING was seen on May 16 . Roland Jordahl was at Maplewood SP on May 17 where he saw COMMON LOON, BARRED OWL, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. In Pelican Rapids a COOPER'S HAWK visited his yard. Marshall Howe in Hubbard County reported CASPIAN TERN and LEAST FLYCATCHER in Dorset on May 11. A warbler wave came through on May 16 when he saw GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, CAPE MAY WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, WILSON'S WARBLER, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, EASTERN KINGBIRD, LEAST FLYCATCHER, and PINE SISKIN were also seen. MOURNING WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER were seen May 13. Bob Ekblad reported a WESTERN KINGBIRD south of Park Rapids along the road that skirts the airport on May 17. . Steve Midthune reported that SOLITARY SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER , BLACK TERN, and BLACKPOLL were seen at Hamden Slough NWR in Becker County on May 13. At Hawley in Clay County, Bob O'Connor saw a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE on May 12. Joanne Johnson at the Audubon Center in Polk County on May 12 saw a long list of species including VEERY, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, EASTERN TOWHEE, BROWN THRASHER , WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, HARRIS'S SPARROW, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. Gary Tischer observed 400 -500 CLIFF SWALLOWS flying under a bridge on US 2, 10 miles east of Crookston on May 16. >From the impoundment in Marshall County, just north of the Audubon center , Bill Blackburn reported GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, WESTERN GREBE, MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, WILLET and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE on May 13. Beth Siverhus reported many species from Agassiz NWR that day including RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, AMERICAN BITTERN, SORA, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, SEDGE WREN, MARSH WREN, and GRAY CATBIRD. Several species of shorebirds were also seen. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at headquarters this week, and Jim Graham saw an EVENING GROSBEAK on May 11. FIELD SPARROW and PINE SISKIN were seen by Gregg Knutsen. The first RUDDY DUCK and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER were seen by Gregg Knutsen on May 10 at headquarters pool. The COMMON RAVEN nest that we found in Pennington County at the Higginbotham WMA west of St Hilaire has been found to have 4 very large young ravens in it. Pat DeWenter saw RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, HERMIT THRUSH, GRAY CATBIRD, OVENBIRD, and BLACK-AND-WH
[mou-net] MRVAC meeting Thursday 5-24
*Why are Wild Turkey's so Successful in Urban Areas? * By Karl Tinsley, University of Minnesota Join us to hear about Karl’s research on urban Wild Turkeys home ranges and successful versus unsuccessful nest sites. "I am conducting a telemetry study examining the behavioral response of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) to the urban environment. My research investigates the influence of available habitat types and landscape features have on home range characteristics and nesting success. Therefore, I am examining home range and habitat usage of the birds in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, including both annual and seasonal home range characteristics for differences between urban individuals and individuals in more rural or natural settings. I am also examining nest site characteristics of successful nests, comparing them with unsuccessful nest sites and non-use areas. It is expected this research will provide a greater understanding of the response of species to fragmented ecosystems, as well as a basic understanding of urban wild turkey ecology." * When: *Please join us May 24th from *7:00-7:30 pm *to socialize over cookies. A brief business meeting and the featured speaker begin at *7:30 pm *. The meeting will conclude before 9:00 pm. Meeting is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, first come, first seated. But, this is not anticipated to be a problem. * Where: *Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington. Take Hwy 494 to 34th Ave. Go south to American Blvd; turn left and go 2 blocks. Center will be on your right. * Public Transit: *Accessible by Hiawatha Light Rail line, The Visitor Center is a couple of blocks from the American Blvd. stop. -- Steve Weston MRVAC Program Chair 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
