[mou-net] Theodore Wirth Park update
I tried out Theodore Wirth Park yesterday afternoon with the help of many who responded to my request. The habitat is still good in the area and the rain last night probably made it even better. It is an area under construction not on Wirth Lake itself but behind the volleyball courts on 3200 Glenwood Avenue. I don't have a scope but this is one of the few times that even the smallest of shorebirds were easy to see with just binoculars so it is a great opportunity for anyone who typically gets frustrated trying to see the subtle differences. I found good numbers of Least, Semipalmated, Pectoral and Spotted Sandpipers along with several Semipalmated Plovers and Killdeer. What I really went to the location for was the White-rumped Sandpipers of which I found two. They can be distinguished from the other sandpipers by their slightly down curved bill with a colored base on the lower mandible, a gradual sloping forehead, a noticeable pale supercilium, wings that extend well past the tail feathers and obviously the white rump if they fly. This was one of the last of a few regular Minnesota birds that I had never seen before and therefore it was an exciting find. Thank you to all who assisted. Jason Caddy j.ca...@hotmail.com Minneapolis 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
16-17 warblers at Kathio State Park, including singing Connecticut in open meadow on right side of main road, past trail center. 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] Snowy Egret @ Veteran's Park Richfield
Not sure if anyone posted it, but there is a Snowy Egret at Veteran#39;s Park. The bird was seen at the south end of the pond near the admin buildings on the 66th street side of the park 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] Rock County Henslow's Sparrows and -- bird goings-on in SE Anoka Co
Wow! Such great bird goings on in far SW Rock Co., a very good place to bird prairie sites. Makes me want to jump in the car and see it all for myself. Obligations at home will help me save gas, so I'll bird vicariously with Shawn's reports! A great spot in SE Minn. for Henslow's is at Frontenac State Park. Went down last week to take my mom and sister (visiting from Michigan for a few days) to Frontenac and Hok-Si-La to experience migration on the Mid-continent N-S flyway. We heard and saw several different Henslow's, mostly on the entrance road's prairie sections at the top of the bluff, where we also listen for woodcock on clear moonlit nights, near the entrance to the walk-in sites' parking lot, and the picnic area at the end of the road. My mom was especially excited, since I don't think she actually believed that we'd be successful, she'd never seen one before! The birds at home are going crazy with song today, after the rainstorms with hail last night. It's been sooo dry here that I'm sure they're drinking water off every leaf! New arrivals in the last few days have been Redstarts, Indigo Buntings, and more Wood Peewee's (think the first batch about a week ago were migrants). What has been very fun to watch are the 2-3 pairs of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that have decided to stay this year. Up until about 3 years ago, they were migrants, or nested in other locations, but have taken territories on either side of the house and one along the drive. We have 2 phoebe nests on the house this year, too, and they don't seem to be fighting or competing for food. One set is singing their quiet, you don't really hear us song right now, which means they have babies in the nest. When that brood is gone, they will step it up again, until the next batch hatch. This happens 2-3x all summer, so the phoebe population around our area must be expanding. The Ovenbirds have stepped up their songs, and the Tennessee's are still going through, for at least 3 weeks now! Fun. The Barred Owls are calling a lot, both day and night, which wakes up the dog, which wakes us all up. We hear a good amount of the 'monkey' calls from the Barred's as they talk about this n' that. I think the owl that whinnies more on the last notes of their call is the female. This year's resident Baltimore Orioles must be younger than the adults that were here last year; their songs are not as loud and complete. They are more skittish about coming to the feeder for jelly, but it's disappearing nonetheless, filled the bowl 3x over the last 1.5 weeks. We just began slapping mosquitoes yesterday. The 'dry' spell ended with the hotter weather over the last couple of days... I'm sure all the rain came because we finally had time to get out our hoses and begin watering the yard... Watered all day yesterday with the 2 traveling sprinklers and moving others around... !! Excuse me, gotta go, hearing an unusual blackbird calling near the marsh. Will report back if it's something noteworthy... Holly Peirson Columbus, SE Anoka Co. -Original Message- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Shawn Conrad Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 8:53 PM To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: [mou-net] Rock County Henslow's Sparrows and MNBBA observations This morning I was at Touch the Sky NWR in Rock County and heard a hiccup that turned out to be a Henslow's Sparrow. The bird was singing right on the edge of the road directly across from the south parking lot of the To the Sky trail kiosk (on 171st, about 2.5 miles west of 75); photos at http://www.moumn.org/cgi-bin/doc.pl?rec_id=2810 Shortly after, I heard another Henslow's in the tract just to the west, then found 2 more of them singing at the north To the Sky trail kiosk along 181st. There are very few records for this species in far SW Minnesota. I also heard an Upland Sandpiper at the south To the Sky kiosk. Surveying Breeding Bird Atlas blocks in Rock County has been interesting. Species like Red-headed Woodpecker have been almost common (dozen), I've seen at least 8 Upland Sandpipers including a group of 3, Dickcissels are all over, Orchard Orioles are frequent, and I've seen a few Swainson's Hawks including an adult feeding chicks on a nest (photo on the MNBBA.org gallery) along CR 10 in NE Rock. I saw 2 male Blue Grosbeaks at locations along 231st between Hwy 23 50th Avenue. A few migrant warblers are still around, including Tennessee Warblers all over the place, Northern Waterthrush, Magnolia, Blackpoll, (late) Palm at Blue Mounds SP. I've seen several Swainson's Thrushes in the last couple of days as well. At the south end of Blue Mounds, I found a Northern Cardinal nest with chicks that was constructed with a shopping bag. A photo will be on the MNBBA.org gallery this week. Field puddles are drying up fast, but I have stumbled on American Pipits, Pectoral, Least, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Short-billed Dowitchers in fields. The Hardwick sewage ponds had
[mou-net] Benton County on May 19 - 105 species
I spent a very windy half day wandering around western Benton County yesterday, getting acquainted with the area. I ran into a little wave of migrating warblers along the shores of Little Rock Lake, which boosted my warbler total to 14 species for the day. Lots of neat habitat up in that area with mixed woodlands, large spruce and pine trees and some savanna as well. Highlights of the day - for me - were yellow-headed blackbird, bobolink, black-throated green and Blackburnian warblers, western kingbird Eurasian Collared-Doves (thanks, Herb), and a treat of shorebirds in the middle of a farm field pond southeast of the CR 1 and CR 13 junction, which included my first black-bellied plover, dunlin and marbled godwit for the county. (no Hudsonians - sorry Milt). Betsy Beneke Benton 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] Detroit Lakes/ NW MN Birds?
It seems to me there was some big birding event in Detroit Lakes this past weekend, wasn't there? The birding must have been really poor, since I haven't seen a single post about what was found up there. Too bad...I've heard that at one time, it was a pretty cool area to be in during spring migration, and that festival was not to be missed... Betsy Beneke 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] Birding about the Metro
After a wet morning finding nothing special, but enjoyable birds in quiet wet, wet paths in a park in central Dakota county, I found Dickcissels! I found two first of the year Dickcissels at Randolph industrial park (Hwy 56 284th St). After the industrial park I went to a gravel pit west of Randolph hoping to document Northern Rough-winged Swallows for the Breeding Bird Atlas. I had already confirmed that Bank Swallows were breeding in a colony at the gravel pit, but I also found five holes in a sand pile a couple of hundred yards from the Bank Swallows that I figured were being used by the Rough-wings. Rough-wings also nest in banks and gravel pits like the Banks, but usually nest in single pairs or small groups. It took a good half hour of waiting, before I got a good look at a Rough-winged Swallow. At least two of the five holes are in active use. Also at the gravel pit I found five species of shorebirds. Two are probably breeding there (Killdeer and Spotted SP). Three were unquestably migrants: Dunlin (3), Semi-palmated Plover, and Least Sandpiper. I turned away and they took off. I believe I got a new yard bird today, finding a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. I have seen some interesting moths lately around the yard: white-striped black (a little day flying butterfly-want-to-be), a plume moth (known in latin-american as a Jesus Christ moth) and one of the looper moths.-- 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
[mou-net] Tircolored Heron...alert Wright County (long)
Hello all, Early-rise birding in the Succonix WMA area southward in Clearwater Twnshp, and I suspect the Sugar Lake area, I observed at 6am in flight for ~45 seconds a Tri-colored Heron, but haven't been able to re-locate it this afternoon, including an attempt by Herb D. RQD in process, but here are some details: Location:4mi S of Clearwater along Hwy 24, Left on 139th St NW-dogleg S on Ireland- turn again east on 132 St NW and on the corner an unnamed WMA part of the Succonix system, go south a bit to the green gate and walk the two-track trail up along side the old field, marsh-pond woodland until you come to the turn-around. Right there is an opening to the marsh-pond. I was standing on the edge and the heron came from the NE flying along the south shore about mid-story. I noted immediately its smaller size than a Great Blue, dark plumaged crooked head and white underparts, ~4-5 wingbeats per second, yet light or more dainty than the lumbering flight of a Great Blue. I then saw the underlining of white fringed dark with long yellow legs extended beyond the tail (flew like an egret, not Bittern or Black-crowned Night herons). The heron circled back as I hoped upon hope it was going to settle in for a landing. Instead, it flew back NE where the slough continues with a series of marsh ponds. Light conditions were darker because of the heavy stratus overcast. I overruled Little Blue Heron as I think of them as even more dainty. I tried several locations in the area, except the forest location on the north side of the WMA...bushwacking necessary to reach the edge of Cornell Lake (unless there is a private property access from the north side of it). Succonix WMA further south along Ireland has several slough ponding. I was momentarily excited thinking I re-located the bird along CR7 ---an east side slough south of 145th St, but only a glimspe and hidden by foliage. I checked Nixon Lake. Perhaps the cottage-docks of Sugar Lake may turn up this bird? Frank G. and I checked the Camp Courage Heron Rookery (along CR7/80th St (Mink Lake) and I was there at twilight to dark watching flights of Great Blues and Great Egrets come in (counted 145 GBH 24 GEgrets), but no small heron. It'd sure be nice if others can find it if it remains in the area, there are many possible locations in this part of the St. Croix Moraine. Plus, some other good birding is possible as shorebirds are stopping at the flooded fields, some warblers are around(very hard to observe---had an nice small wave at the opening mentioned above (Golden-winged, Yellows, and a Connecticut (luckily) and heard a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. This is also the field where a Henslow's was reported a couple years ago (actually the species I was after this morning). Note me if you want more ideas. mjblomberg 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] Eclipse Plumage?
I am second guessing my identification of an American Black Duck that I made Saturday (lifer) and would like some second opinions from more experienced birders. First off, I just observe, so I do not have any of it so I am drawing details from the best of my memory. In the field I thought it was an American Black Duck, but upon more research I am thinking it could have been a Mallard in eclipse plumage. I know for certain that the bill appeared yellow and they (3) were certainly dabblers. I was near Park Point, Duluth when I saw them. My main concern here is that I do not know when Mallards typically molt in to their eclipse plumage; the readings I have read had varied results such as the beginning and end of summer. Furthermore I do not know if they all typically do it at once or if it varies for each individual; I saw some (10+) male Mallards in their normal plumage throughout the day. Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
