[mou-net] more on feathered dinosaurs-- from Science News
more and bigger fossil dinosaurs with filoplumes http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/341948/title/All__dinosaurs_may_h ave_had_feathers Gordon Andersson St Paul 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] Bagley birding this morning, with photos
This morning I walked to Bagley Nature Area, and birded the trails. I had a few new bird additions this morning, not observed during past visits to Bagley, including a Great Crested Flycatcher, Hooded Merganser and a Green Heron. eBird list is below, followed by photos. Enjoy! http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11095721 Green Heron http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/144524928 Hooded Mergansers http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/144524929 Butterfly http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/144524930 White-tailed Deer http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/144524932 Squirrel http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/144524935 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/144524934 Spider http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/144524933 Good birding, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN -- *NATURALLY AVIAN* - Birding Tours and Bird photography birdf...@gmail.com www.pbase.com/birdfedr www.facebook.com/NaturallyAvian www.naturallyavian.blogspot.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] Forest Strnad
I first met Forest in 1958 at White Water State Park at an MOU meeting where he put on a banding demo with a Great Horned Owl, Towhees, and Cardinals. The Johnson families were there too. All of them remained my fast friends till they passed on. I will always remember all of them. Gary Kuyava in NE 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] recent birds in Goodhue County
Recent reports to the Breeding Bird Atlas in one block in Goodhue County include: Whip-poor-will, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Cerulean, Prothonotary, Chestnut-sided, Black & White warblers, and Lark Sparrow. -- Steve Weston On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN 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
Re: [mou-net] Forest Strnad
I hate to reveal my age but I first met Forest in 1966 when the Inland Bird Banding Association held its annual meeting at the Bell Museum. I was fresh out of college and had just obtained my master permit. He has been a dear friend ever since and I too will miss him. 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] Eurasian Collared-Dove's
Hello: While golfing at the Austin Country Club yesterday two Eurasian Collared-Doves flew by right over us. It was around 4:30 in the afternoon with good light. I see them in Arizona so am familiar with their flight pattern and light color. Thanks, Robert Jessen, Mower 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] Carver County
Just like this past spring's shorebird migration, fall is beginning much better than usual in the remaining flooded areas of western Carver County. Besides shorebirds about the only notable birds were 3 Black Terns that fed in a flooded field until they flew off to the south this morning. July 3 Solitary Sandpiper 7 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 33 Least Sandpiper 18 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 July 4 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Solitary Sandpiper 11 Lesser Yellowlegs 10 Least Sandpiper 41 Baird's Sandpiper 2 (breeding plumage adult and molting adult) Peep species 18 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 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] Common Gallinule
This morning, between 8:30 and 9:00 am, the Common Gallinule was still active at 180th Street marsh. I saw it with Tom Malone who was bird watching at the same time. As previously reported, it is on north side of the road in the east pond. Looking north, there is a large, tall patch of cattails with grass in front. The bird came out of the cattails and spent time in the grassy area at the water's edge. It walked east into an open area where it was fully visible. We saw one bird only. Raymond Tervo 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] Forest Strnad
Forest was a friend of long-standing. I will miss him. Al Batt http://albatt.net/ 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] Pope County
Birded around Pope County the past couple of days mostly for MBBA survey (in the warmish weather). Of interest: Still more Dickcissels, this time in my “new” White Bear Lake township priority block. At least two males that appeared to defend territories, one pair copulating (with a female – not the other male). There was also a Bobolink that appeared to defend a territory in this same WPA. At least he appeared to be chasing away another male (it did not look like some friendly bachelor party), he then returned to his post. These were in Gorder (west) WPA. The Dickcissels I found 3 weeks ago in my MBBA survey in Nora township (Mattson WPA) were still there in the exact same spot. The best bird, though, was the Red-necked Grebes. There were two hens on what appeared to be nests on a small western arm of Pike Lake. I will follow up on these. Also on Pike Lake were some Pied-billed Grebes – no fledglings, though. There were several families of Pied-billeds on a Moen WPA lake in Nora Tshp. There was also a lone Red-necked Grebe on Wollan Lake in White Bear Lake township. I have seen Red-necks on this lake before and others have reported them there. I hope we can confirm breeding activity this year. A hen might be on a nest but most of this lake in inaccessible. I was pretty excited to confirm Bobolinks in Ben Wade township across the road from my farm. The bird has been on the same territory since early June and is regularly bringing food to a single location near his favorite perch. Maybe we will see young birds next week. A couple of general observations (western and northwestern Pope County): Sparrows – Song Sparrows are everywhere – adults, downy young, young begging food. Maybe it is because Breeding Bird Surveys force one to notice every location, numbers of birds, etc rather than making lists but I thought there were many more than I remember. Also, Swamp Sparrows are everywhere. I quit making notes on locations because every cattail marsh had Swamp Sparrows calling. Of course, I only actually saw one or two of them and not nests, begging fledglings, or downy young. But then, there are cattail swamps everywhere in the county, too, so maybe that is the reason. Chipping sparrows are well represented, as well. Clay-colored were not common but around – also stuffing insects down little gullets. Uncommon or non-existent: Field, Grasshopper, Vesper, Savannah. According to MOU maps, all of these are rare nesters in Pope County, no nesting records for Savannah. Of course, I have trouble hearing Grasshopper unless I am downwind, light or no breeze, less than 75 yards, etc. This area is primarily agricultural with scattered WPAs, farm groves, and wetland ponds so maybe there are more of these species in the “grassier” southern half of the county, i.e. Glacial Lakes SP. Perhaps many have stopped calling – everything else is early. It just seems to me there were more of these in recent years. There were also no Meadowlarks, very few Horned Larks, and only 3 Pheasants with babies. My farmer neighbors reported, anecdotally, that pheasant populations were down. They attributed this to the harsh winter of 2010-11 with lots of snow and cold followed by a cold and wet spring nesting season. Another unpleasant but real report from the farmers was far fewer Mallard and Pheasant nests molested by hay mowing. I saw very few Mallards on lakes and ponds Ring-necked Ducks were more common – seen on several ponds and lakes – with youngsters. Marsh, Sedge and House Wrens are apparently doing well; Marsh in many cattail marshes, Sedge are in nearly every patch of grass larger than 10 acres, House in many farmstead groves and small clusters of oak, ash, and box elder trees. In response to Al Schirmacher’s inquiry regarding Harriers: There were many Harriers around Pope County in May and early June, many on predictable and regular territories and almost as numerous as Red-tails. This past week – one. Maybe they think it is too hot to go out hovering around the prairie – and maybe the little guys they are hunting are hunkered down in the cool ground. Speaking of little guys – I saw many striped gophers, otherwise known as Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels along the roads. So there goes my theory – it apparently wasn’t too hot for them to be out. Sid Stivland Plymouth, MN (and Pope 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
