[mou-net] Field Guides Needed
I am posting this request on behalf of Wings Over Alma. Unexpected circumstances have left their annual spring Birding by Mini Train event short of guides. If anyone is willing to help out next Sunday, April 28th, 7am - noon please contact Kathy Goodman at 507-313-2741. They are looking for two guides for this morning trip that traverses the backwaters and flood plain forest of the Tiffany Bottoms. Below is a link to find out more about this unique birding event. A small stipend is offered. http://www.wingsoveralma.org/natureeventsresources/birdingbyminitrain.html Kelly Larson Northern Flights Farm Clearwater County Bagley, 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] Birding/Photographing around Red Wing
Yesterday (Saturday) my Husband and I got two Life Birds photographed! We were lucky enough to see both the Golden-Crowned Kinglet and the Ruby-Crowned Kinglet near Bay Point Park in Red Wing. We were also able to photograph Osprey fishing at Colvill Park. There were six active Eagles there that were also fishing but further back in the bay. We saw Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Flicker, Buffleheads, Northern Shovelers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pied-billed Grebes, Great Blue Heron, Egret, Double-crested Cormorant, Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush (Hok-Si-La Park), American White Pelican, Robins, and even a Muskrat :) I hope everyone was able to enjoy yesterday's beautiful weather by getting out and birding :) Linda and Kevin Krueger www.FlightOfNature.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] New arrivals in Sax-Zim Bog Lake Superior
This morning I birded the shore of Lake Superior from Brighton Beach, and had some great finds; including Long-tailed Ducks, Common Loons, Red-necked Grebes, Horned Grebes and others! eBird list from this morning is below. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13825469 Here is a photo of the three Long-tailed Ducks flying in this morning http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/149790514 Yesterday I led a birding trip to Sax-Zim Bog. Had an outstanding day, with the early spring migrants just starting to come through. The bog is filled with Rough-legged Hawks and Dark-eyed Juncos right now! ebird list below. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13823616 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] Red-necked and Horned Grebes, Fort Snelling State Park
This morning I had 7 Red-necked Grebes, 30+ Horned Grebes, 50+ Common Loons, 20 Bonaparte's Gulls, numerous waterfowl, and a Barred Owl at Fort Snelling State Park (Dakota County). The Grebes, Gulls, and Loons were all on Snelling Lake. Peter Nichols Cottage Grove Washington 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] Orange-crowned Warbler, Ramsey County
In defiance of the weather an early Orange-crowned Warbler appeared this afternoon in Benson Prairie on the northeast side of Bald Eagle Lake. I found the bird foraging low in the wooded edge of the trail on the west side of the prairie. Also of note were several Rusty Blackbirds in the wooded wetlands between the prairie and the parking lot / picnic area to the south. 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] Ross's Goose at 180th
Saw a Ross's Goose lying in the vegetation at 180th this AM. Northeast pond, reeds separating the small front pond from the rear pond on the S edge. John Ellis-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] Willet ~ Dakota Co.
This afternoon at Lake Byllesby Regional Park - (west end access) in Randolph, Dakota County I observed a Willet, Least Sandpiper, and Dunlin. The diagnostic wing pattern of the Willet has to be one of the most beautiful shorebirds in flight. Conny Brunell Richfield, Hennepin Co. 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] Ibis: 140th St Marsh/Cinnamon Teal, Marbled Godwits, Randolph, Dakota C.
Please excuse the tardy post; I was unable to reach friends near computers. Some time before 5 PM today, my husband Rob and I were en route home and decided to check on the status of 140th St. Marsh, as Roger Everhart has suggested. Feeding in waters right beside the road was an Ibis, either White-faced or Glossy. Given the rain and low light, the differential facial/eye colors were not the brightest, but the overall impression was that colors were pinkish, suggesting White-faced. (Our only other experience with this species is from a refuge out west in the bright sun of summer, and last year's bird at Old Cedar Avenue Bridge.) Despite our remaining in the car and turning off the engine, the bird grew apprehensive after a moment or two, and flew up across the marsh east, then circled north and counter-clockwise, south. It appeared to want to return for feeding, so we departed in hopes it would return. I asked Steve Weston, who was out and about, to try to re-locate it on his way home for confirmation of ID. Other special finds for us today were the Eared Grebe at L. Byllesby, which (my) Rob spotted, and nearby, the Cinnamon Teal (pair, I think) and 2 Marbled Godwits feeding in a farm-field wet area at the SW intersection of hwy 56 and Scotia Trail. Our thanks goes to Jim Otto for having pointed out the teal to Rob Daves last week, and to Rob Daves, with whom we birded today, for showing us the exact spot. We saw other lovely birds, most of them familiar to us, but at the 180th St. Marsh there was a trio that puzzled, because they gave only a brief fly-by look, before dropping out of the high wind, into the marsh grass. I think they were a Tern species, based on their shape and their pattern of flight over the water. They were small to medium in size, and medium gray, mostly overall in color, both upper and lower body. They did not seem like the Black Terns I've seen there in the past. If anyone else saw Terns there today, I'd love to hear about it. Linda Whyte 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] Lyon County
Herb Dingman reported that he found a great black back gull on the ice on Cottonwood Lake today. It was on the Northwest side, but he saw it from the south shore. You might be able to get a good look from Shoreview Drive public dock or from Northwood Drive on north side of lake at the point- lot with small building where street curves to the north. Hiking in is not an option at this time. Sue Morton Cottonwood 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] White-faced Ibis - Myre-Big Island State Park (Freeborn)
This morning I had the good fortune to find a White-faced Ibis in Myre-Big Island State Park. The Ibis initially flew over me at the first curve in the paved road about 1/4 mile south of the park office. By walking down the paved road to the east about 100 yards, and then taking the trail to the right that curves around the hill, I was able to find where it had settled into a small pond. I was able to get a good look with my scope and positively identify it as a White-faced Ibis. Unfortunately, about the time I identified it, some ducks in the pond spooked and the Ibis went with them. Hopefully, it's still in the area somewhere. Herb Dingmann St. Cloud 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 Plymouth yard bird
At the Stivland plantation here in Plymouth – a new yard bird. As I was out feeding the ducks (swimming around in the 16 square yards of open water) I flushed a bird that I first thought was a Snipe. But as I circled back around and re-located the bird, I realized it was an American Woodcock. Very cooperative and trying to blend in. A first for our yard here. I do not know if this is good or not – I guess it is bad for the birds but good for the birders. I still have Redpolls at the feeder and they are really looking sharp! The males are so red I almost blew them off as House Finches. I am guessing they are more colorful during breeding season, and of course we usually don’t seem them this late. So yesterday, mama Wood Duck was checking out her new digs (I have a new Wood Duck box). Today at the feeder we had - all on the same feeder, mind you - a pair of Common Redpolls, a pair of Purple Finches, and an American Goldfinch in nearly complete breeding plumage, while under the feeder and among the 2 dozen Juncos were a Fox Sparrow, two Chipping Sparrows, and a Song Sparrow. Seeing all these birds in the same view seemed a bit strange. Then, about noon, our resident juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk paid a visit. This quieted down the squirrels and some of the little birds. So all-in-all a pretty fun day. Sid Stivland Plymouth, 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] Birding about the Metro
I got out birding both Saturday (with the Hastings Bird Festival) and today (Sunday). I say a lot of the good birds reported on Saturday and shall not duplicate those reports. Plus, I had good birds around the yard. On Saturday I had a wonderful group of high school kids, who were far more interested in each other than the birds. I am sure the highlight for them was the Hermit Thrush I pulled in to about twenty feet by playing its song. Highlights for me included FOY's (first of year's): Osprey, Virginia Rail, W. Phalaropes, Swainson's Thrush, Chipping Sparrow, and Field Sparrow. I also saw a Red-tail on a nest at Highways 61 10, north of Hastings and a Great Horned Owl with two young in the trees overlooking and west of 180th St. wetlands. This is a good nest to check out as you are far enough away from the nest to not disturb the family. Today I visited a few birding spots in the late afternoon in the rain. I found a large flock of gulls that include two each of Bonaparts and Franklins. The Franklins had a beautiful pink chest. At Scotia and Hwy 56 south of Randolph I found one Greater Yellowlegs and one Marbled Godwit and no ducks. At Randolph Industrial Park I found a flock of 800+ Northern Shovelers. At 140th Street Marsh (just east of Hwy 52), I found a Canvasback, the first of the weekend, but no Ibis. At home today we continued to host Fox and Swamp sparrows, numerous Juncos, a Hermit Thrush and two pairs of Purple Finches. I checked out my four wood duck house. One had nine eggs, almost all Wood Duck eggs. The other three were empty. One I had to make some repairs to make it habitable. 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
[mou-net] Lyon County correction - Lesser Black-backed Gull
Correction - Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cottonwood Lake. The bird was seen around 5:00 this afternoon. Herb Dingmann St. Cloud Herb Dingman reported that he found a great black back gull on the ice on Cottonwood Lake today. It was on the Northwest side, but he saw it from the south shore. You might be able to get a good look from Shoreview Drive public dock or from Northwood Drive on north side of lake at the point- lot with small building where street curves to the north. Hiking in is not an option at this time. 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] MN Riverfront Park and Black Dog Fen
On Black Dog Lake at and near Minnesota Riverfront Park (located 1/2 mile east of Black Dog Road exit off of I-35W), several good finds this evening (Sunday, April 21) in spite of the rain: Canvasback 60+ Ruddy Duck 40+ Am. White Pelican 8 Franklin's Gull 7 Caspian Tern 1 Forster's Tern 2 Also heard 8+ Am. Woodcock peenting and engaging in aerial displays at dusk at Black Dog fen, which can be accessed off of Cliff Road 1 mile east of I-35W. Dave Zumeta 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] More stuff I forgot to include
My wife got a call from her friend who has been hosting a Carolina Wren since mid December. The wren is still there and she is afraid that her husband, who has learned to imitate its song maybe responsible. We had six pairs of ducks by our shore today. At one point two male Hooded Mergansers were swimming around close together and a female flew in. The two turned their attention to her and a brawl was about to break out between the two rivals. The female took off with the males hot on her tail. A Mallard hen checked out the top of the brush pile for starting her brood. She left, leaving nothing behind. We will watch to see if she is still interested in the spot. My wife told me that the fox that was stalking geese on the ice last week was very interested in the birds around the feeder. Today was the first day I've heard chorus frogs. I have to see when I have to go out and run my frog and toad survey. 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
