[mou-net] Duluth sightings this morning
I skied throughout Hartley Nature Center this morning, and throughout the foot of snow that had fallen recently, came across a Great Horned Owl, several robins and other local bird species. Migration is extremely slow up here this year, as a result of the snow and consistent cold fronts. eBird list from cross country skiing this morning, is below. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13721200 Good birding, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN -- *NATURALLY AVIAN* - Birding Tours and Bird Photography birdf...@gmail.com (e-mail) www.naturallyavian.com (birding tours) www.pbase.com/birdfedr (photos) www.facebook.com/NaturallyAvian (facebook) 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] Raven at Refuge HQ, Rednecked Grebe, Peregrine.
Spotted Raven at MN Valley National Wildlife HQ after seeing on this list. It was literally out the back door in a tree just over the hillside trail sign. Time was 4:00pm. Very cool. After that drove to Black Dog lake viewing dock. Found a pair of Rednecked Grebe far on the end away from the power plant towards 35W. Needed 40-60x on the scope, but grat looking pair. Also some Bufflehead, red breasted merganser, common merganser, lesser Scaup, and a number of ruddy ducks. Also sighted the Peregrine Falcon landing on the tallest power plant stack a few minutes later. 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] Wells Lake, Sakatah Lake, and Rice Co.
I was able to spend several hours birding southwest of Northfield late this morning and early afternoon. I started at a regular stop, Wells Lake (Rice County), which continues to host a good variety of waterfowl. In addition to 3 Common Loons, I found Gadwalls, Mallards, Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups (largest number), Buffleheads, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, and tons of American Coots. No Greater White-fronted Geese, though. Where are the huge flocks we saw last year?! Then I headed down to Sakatah Lake. Dark-eyed Juncos lined the edges of the roads everywhere, foraging in the bit of grass and gravel that was exposed from snow cover. In a flooded ditch along MN 60 I noticed a number of robins splashing around, so I stopped to see if there might be anything else. A little scanning with the binoculars turned up two Rusty Blackbirds, a Wilson’s Snipe, and 6 Hermit Thrushes along the edge of the water, and an Eastern Phoebe in the trees. At Sakatah Lake (from the Hwy 13 causeway at Waterville, Le Sueur County) I found many of the same waterfowl species as at Wells, plus some Redheads and 15 American White Pelicans. The waterfowl in largest numbers were Lesser Scaups, Canvasbacks, and American Coots. I also saw my FOY Osprey, which plunged into the lake and came up with a small fish. I was surprised to see a Ring-billed Gull briefly give chace. On the way back to Northfield, I decided to turn off I-35 at the CR1 exit. After stopping to look at some sparrows (American Tree Sparrows and a Vesper Sparrow) mixed in with a flock of Dark-eyed Juncos, I noticed a flock of birds in the air about 100 yards ahead. When I drove up along the shoulder I found about 150 Lapland Longspurs in beautiful breeding plumage foraging in the cornfield near the road. About 30 Horned Larks soon joined them. Every time a car or truck drove past, the flock would rise in the air, flutter around like a snow squall, and settle down again as they always do, and eventually I noticed that a flock of about 50 Snow Buntings had come in as well. What a treat, to see both Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings in breeding plumage! There are lots of birds to see out there. You just have to get out! Good birding to all. Gerry Hoekstra Northfield 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] Dark eyed Juncos
I know you are seeing many juncos and today at Carpenter Nature Center we banded 72 of them and that was a fraction of the population. No nets, all caught in potter's traps. Tom Bell Grey Cloud Island 5868 Pioneer Rd. S. St. Paul Park, MN 55071 651-459-4150 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] St. Paul Audubon Field Trip Cancelled
Tomorrow’s Saint Paul Audubon field trip to Miesville Ravine and Lake Byllesby is cancelled due to messy roads near Miesville Ravine and difficulty parking at Lake Byllesby. This is NOT the MOU field trip led by Kevin Smith. Julian 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] Short-eared Owl, Randolph, Dakota County
At 9:45 this morning, there was a Short-eared Owl in the Great Western Industrial Park off of MN Hwy 56 north of Randolph. I was parked on the first road to the north when it floated past and landed on a post near the north end of that road. The roads in the industrial park are paved, so the snow was not a problem. Julian 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] , Eden Prairie, Hennepin Co, Mn
Happy snowy Friday birders, It's a 4 blackbird species at my work feeder with side-by-side comparison of 1 Rusty and 1 Brewer's Blackbird. The Brewer's is a county first for me. The feeders are hopping with Fox Sparrows and juncos. Flyover Great Egrets look mystical in this snowy, milky sky. My office feeder is on the SW side of Golden Triangle Dr in Eden Prairie. Looking up, Alex Cruz Hennepin Co, 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] Evening Grosbeak
On this snowy Duluth day, among the chickadees, redpolls, and juncos, there is an Evening Grosbeak.Molly ThompsonDuluth, 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] Cinnamon Teal - Rochester
Does anyone have any information on the Cinnamon Teal that was previously seen in the Rochester area??? Thanks Bob Janssen 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] Breeding Bird Survey Routes
There are 9 Breeding Bird Survey Routes that need coverage for this year. The routes available are as follows: 017 - Knapp (Wright County) 018 - St. Stephen (near St. Cloud) 030 - Island Lake (north of Duluth) 052 - Lake Bronson (Kittson County) 061 - Tracy (Lyon County) 062 - Tyler (Lincoln County) 063 - Brook Park (Pine County) 073- Babbitt (south of Ely) 179 - Nett Lake (Koochiching/ St. Louis County) If you are interested in running any of these routes please let me know and I will see that complete information including maps is sent to you. Bob Janssen 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] DL Festival of Birds
This year the Detroit Lakes Festival (May 16-19) will include an overnight field trip to Winnipeg Canada. Leaders for this trip include Carrol Henderson, Sharon "birdchick" Stiteler and Erick Bruhnke. The route will follow the new Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail. Stops include the Agassiz Valley Impoundment in Warren MN, Oak Hammock Marsh WMA in Manitoba, and the Narcisse WMA also in Manitoba. A passport is required. Registration and payment must be received by April 18th 2013 to reserve lodging. For details see: www.VisitDetroitLakes.com/events/festival-of-birds. 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] Raven in Bloomington
The reported raven in Bloomington reminds me of birders' need - including my own - for humility. I had not studied their range maps when I moved to Minnesota in 2003. So, when I began to see & hear ravens in the Sherburne NWR & Princeton areas, I reported them. Some expressed sincere doubts - not always diplomatically - now they are an accepted, nearly daily part of the refuge reporting. Birds don't read range maps - ranges fluctuate due to a variety of reasons - I, and others, need to express doubt with humility. Now if I could just find that stupid Sherburne magpie before relocating 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] Common Raven at Minnesota Valley NWR
Three birders have spotted a common raven near the Bloomington Visitor Center on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We haven't seen it yet today, but we are hoping it is still around! -- Kristin Raveling Park Ranger Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 3815 American Blvd E Bloomington, MN 55425 Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
