[mou-net] 40+ Caspian Terns, Normandale Lake, Bloomington (Hennepin Co.)
There are at least 40 Caspian Terns resting on a small sandbar on Normandale Lake in Bloomington right now, as viewed from my office window. Andrew Forbes, Assistant Coordinator Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes Region Joint Venture U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MBSP, Region 3 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990 Bloomington, MN 55437-1458 Phone: 612-713-5364 Fax: 612-713-5393 www.uppermissgreatlakesjv.org 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] Douglas County
Personally a really exciting morning. Male, common yellowthroat warbler is first in Mn. and male, Rose-breasted Grosbeak first in my backyard. In '08 I saw this bird in Glenwood, Mn. These are my only two Mn. sightings. Yipee! I'm so glad! Good birding to all! Judy in Alexandria 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] MEGA-Owl Release! Sax-Zim FOUR Great Grays, FOUR Boreal Owls
FRIENDS OF SAX-ZIM BOG in partnership with WILDWOODS WILDLIFE REHABILITATION and FRANK NICOLETTI are sponsoring the release of FOUR Great Gray Owls and FOUR Boreal Owls on Wednesday May 15th. These owls were found sick or injured this winter and rehabbed at Wildwoods. They are now healthy and ready for life in the wild bogs! We'll meet at 6:30pm in the parking lot of the church at 7706 County Rd. 29, Meadowlands, MN. From there, we will be driving from release site to release site in Sax-Zim Bog, to spots carefully chosen by owl expert Frank Nicoletti. Everyone is welcome, and bring your cameras! Unique photo opportunity! THE FIRST RELEASE SITE WILL BE FRIENDS OF SAX-ZIM BOG'S OWL AVENUE FEEDER SITE. See our facebook page too. Sparky Stensaas www.SaxZim.org 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 Dakota Goodhue Counties
On Saturday I got down to Frontenac, Hok-si-lah and other locations in Goodhue County. First of year birds included Eastern Kingbird and Lark Sparrow on top of the hill in the park, and Nashville, Wilson's, and Tennessee warblers. Highlights included a Sora rail hiding in a free standing bush in the middle of a grassy area near the buildings and a Coopers Hawk flying away with its lunch On Sunday I birded Dakota County. First of the year sightings included a Loggerhead Shrike on Emery, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Blackburian Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, and Baltimore Oriole. Highlights included a Gray Partridge in Great Western Industrial Park by Randolph, Horned Grebes still at 180th Marsh, and a pair of Virginia Rails also at 180th. 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] Mockingbird, St. Paul, BVNS
Between 9:45 and 10:15 this morning I observed a Northern Mockingbird in the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul. It was hanging around in the rows of young oaks in the center of the sanctuary, sometimes feeding on the ground, then it flew to the nearby cottonwoods on the east side of the main path. It repeatedly shook its head, as if trying to free itself from a thread or something (which I could not see) around its neck. The sanctuary is between Mounds Park and downtown St. Paul’s Lowertown. Enter “Commercial St E 4th St, St Paul, MN” to Google Maps. The entrance is from a small parking lot at that intersection. To get there you have to take Commercial Street from Mounds Blvd (E 4th street is blocked due to construction). I’ve been going to BVNS this spring to check for activity at the kestrel nest box that St. Paul Audubon placed there in the winter of 2012. Last spring a pair of kestrels fledged five young. This year, I think the box is empty. 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] Common Gallinule, Winona County
I found a Common Gallinule at 12:40PM Saturday at the same spot as the 5 White-faced Ibis a week or so ago. Take Bartlet Lake Road to the end where construction barriers have been put up, as water is crossing the road. The Gallinule was in a larger expanse of cattails on the left side of the road, just after the construction barriers. Dedrick BenzWinona, 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] MVNWR - Old Cedar Ave. - Hennepin County - 5/13/2013
May 13, 2013 While leading a trip, along the Bluff Trail, which heads West from the parking area by the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge this morning. We observed a nice mix of Warblers, plus a few other species of interest. Here are some of the species observed this morning: Horned Grebe Virginia RailSoraCaspian TernCommon TernLeast FlycatcherYellow-throated VireoBlue-headed VireoMarsh WrenGray-cheeked ThrushGray CatbirdWe observed the following Warblers:Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Common Yellow-throat, American Redstart, Cape May, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Palm, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green and Wilson's.Lincoln's SparrowSwamp SparrowWhite-throated SparrowBaltimore Oriole Craig MandelMinnetonka, Hennepin countyegretc...@msn.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] Gallinule correction - Monday
Sorry, folks. I found the Gallinule Monday, not Saturday. Every day in May feels like Saturday. Dedrick BenzWinona, 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] Clay County longspurs; ID challenge in Norman Co
In addition to the Say's Phoebe found at Felton Prairie and posted yesterday (marginal, identifiable photos taken), the Minn Birding Weekends (MBW) group managed to see a few things of note this past weekend (10-11-12 May) in Clay and Norman Co's. Of course, like everyone else, we were plagued by high winds after the front went through on Friday afternoon (steady 35-40 mph winds, gusts to 47) and most of Saturday (25-30 mph, frequent 40 mph gusts). And, like other birders are well aware, we found that many migrants (especially woods birds) had not yet arrived in these counties or elsewhere in the N half of Minn – which is not surprising, given that hardly any trees are leafed out yet and many lakes are still frozen. Especially interesting on 12 May (after the winds died down!) were the 3 species of longspurs simultaneously at the traditional area along the longspur road at Felton Prairie, 2.5 mi N of CR 26. Three male Chestnut-collareds had returned to apparent breeding territories, while both Smith's and Lapland longspurs were seen and heard as they migrated overhead. (The buffy/orange underparts and distinctive call notes of the Smith's could be detected as they flew by us.) Linda Sparling also spotted some Smith's flying by us on 11 May along CR 79, a few miles W of Bluestem Prairie SNA; migrant Laplands were also here and at a few other locations in Clay and Norman Co's. Also seen: - Gr Prairie-Chickens at 3 leks in Norman Co and 3 in Clay Co (one of these in the Chestnut-collared Longspur pasture) - A Peregrine Falcon preying on prairie-chickens in Norman Co, and another chasing longspurs in Clay Co - Am Avocet 1.5 mi S and 0.5 mi E of Hitterdal, Clay Co on 11 May; another on 9 May at Comstock sewage ponds, Clay Co. - Com Ravens a bit S of their normal range: Twin Valley, Norman Co on 10 May; 5 mi E of Felton, Clay Co on 11 May - Single Cape May Warblers in Norman and Clay Co's; this species tends to be uncommon/rare in W Minn, but several have been noted recently in SE Minn But the most interesting bird by far during this MBW was the unidentified sparrow-like bird we found on 10 May in Norman Co at the corner of 310th Ave and 350th St (6 mi N + 2 mi W of Gary). It was foraging on the ground along a gravel/dirt road with 2 Vesper Sparrows, was a bit smaller overall than the Vespers, had a patterned face reminiscent of a Clay-colored Sparrow, but its underparts were a uniform clear yellow (about the shade of a female Yellow Warbler; perhaps less yellow on the throat and under tail coverts). My first impression was of a Clay-colored Sparrow which had been stained yellow by vegetation or something; my second impression was of a female-plumaged Bobolink (except the overall size, facial pattern, shade of yellow, and bill shape did not match); my third impression was it was something I had never seen before or noticed in any North American field guide. Unfortunately, it was only in view for perhaps 30 seconds or so, only its face pattern and underparts were visible, and only a few of us in the group were able to see it before it flew off with the Vesper Sparrows and briefly landed in a dirt field before flying off again and out of sight. No photos were taken, and a systematic 45-minute search failed to relocate it. We then paged through the 6th edition of the National Geographic field guide and unexpectedly found a close match: female Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola), whose range is described as casual to AK, mostly on western Aleutians. A later search through Google images turned up several photos of this species which also closely resembled what we saw (there were also images which did not resemble our bird). Obviously, with such a brief view and no physical evidence to support such an identification, I am certainly not claiming we saw anything as unusual as a Yellow-breasted Bunting. But at the same time I cannot entirely rule it out as a possibility, and I still have no clear idea what it might have been! Kim R Eckert ecker...@gmail.com http://www.mbwbirds.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] Fw: [mou-net] Mockingbird, St. Paul, BVNS
Mockingbird still present among young oak trees at 2:30pm. Yes, Minnesota nemisis bird found. And in my home county. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android 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] Golden Valley GC Flycatcher
I found my first ever MN Great Crested Flycatcher at General Mills in Golden Valley today. Also found many of the same warblers as yesterday, with Tennessee being a new one here. bob butson golden valley 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] Becker Co.
A few days before the Festival of Birds there were pine, American redstart, bay-breasted, chestnut-sided, palm and yellow-rumped warblers at Tamarac and Wilson's phalaropes at the sewage ponds in Lake Park. There is as yet little foliage on the trees so it should be easy viewing for the field trips with the festival. We are hoping that the warm temps and south winds will bring more birds to the area. Steve Midthune Lake Park Becker 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] Warblers in southern Hubbard County
A nice group of warblers was foraging in willow flowers this afternoon behind our home near Dorset. Flocks included Tennessee, orange-crowned, and yellow (the 3 commonest species), but also yellow-rumped, magnolia, black and white, Wilson's, and blackpoll. Palm and pine warblers have also been in the area.. Clearly a number of resident and migrant warblers have non yet arrived, at least in numbers. Marshall Howe Park Rapids, 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] N. Mockingbird, St. Paul
The N. Mocking bird was re-found at two locations in Bruce Vento Preserve around 4:15 and again at around 5:00. It was first spotted at a distance, foraging in one of the burn areas west of the big pond. The second time, it was seen at the west end of the rows of young, planted trees, where it flew from the ground, into one of the saplings. It promptly flew again, to one of the four large deciduous trees beside the path. It was amazing (not to say frustrating) that such a bird could seemingly disappear in an area with little foliage fully opened. If it hadn't revealed itself by flying and flashing the white windows in its wings both times, I'm not sure we would have seen it; it made no sound that we could detect in the high wind and rush-hour traffic. As it was, we had almost given up hoping for a second glance and were heading out, when it showed itself, and Halle got her lifer. Thanks, Julian, for posting. 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] Minnetonka birding
Today at our thistle feeder I was surprised to see 11 Pine Siskins! Also at feeders 3 male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks 2 male Baltimore Oriole Lincoln's, Song, Chipping, White-throated Sparrows This evening at Big Willow Park 1 male Baltimore Oriole Broad-Winged Hawk light phase Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Palm, Yellow, Yellow-rumped Warbler Ruby-crowned Kinglet Ken Larson Hennepin 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] hooded warbler in hennepin co.
The hooded warbler was still present at Robert’s Sanctuary in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co. in the same general location as recently posted. The bird was seen about 12pm. or so today, again foraging on the ground a bit further east than the broken down boardwalk, still near the main trail. A thanks to Mary Alyce Krohnke for spotting it after a bit of a search! Leslie Marcus St. Louis Park, 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] Fw: [mou-net] Mockingbird, St. Paul, BVNS
To answer Julian's question, while I watched the mockingbird, it was acting normally like a mockingbird. No evidence of a problem, shaking the head, or anything else. - Forwarded Message - From: Julian Sellers juliansell...@msn.com To: Frank Berdan fberda...@gmail.com Cc: roymz...@yahoo.com; bi...@moosewoods.us Sent: Monday, May 13, 2013 8:42 PM Subject: Re: [mou-net] Mockingbird, St. Paul, BVNS Thanks for the reports, everyone. I’m curious whether anybody noticed the bird repeatedly shaking its head. Julian From: Frank Berdan Sent: Monday, May 13, 2013 8:09 PM To: Julian Sellers Cc: roymz...@yahoo.com ; bi...@moosewoods.us Subject: Re: [mou-net] Mockingbird, St. Paul, BVNS Julian, thanks for the original post. Thx also to Roy and Linda for updates. Kathi I found the bird about 7:00 tonight, then pointed it out to two other parties. Mini-milestone for me: 220 in Ramsey County. Frank Berdan On Mon, May 13, 2013 at 11:30 AM, Julian Sellers juliansell...@msn.com wrote: Between 9:45 and 10:15 this morning I observed a Northern Mockingbird in the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul. It was hanging around in the rows of young oaks in the center of the sanctuary, sometimes feeding on the ground, then it flew to the nearby cottonwoods on the east side of the main path. It repeatedly shook its head, as if trying to free itself from a thread or something (which I could not see) around its neck. The sanctuary is between Mounds Park and downtown St. Paul’s Lowertown. Enter “Commercial St E 4th St, St Paul, MN” to Google Maps. The entrance is from a small parking lot at that intersection. To get there you have to take Commercial Street from Mounds Blvd (E 4th street is blocked due to construction). I’ve been going to BVNS this spring to check for activity at the kestrel nest box that St. Paul Audubon placed there in the winter of 2012. Last spring a pair of kestrels fledged five young. This year, I think the box is empty. 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 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] Hudsonian Godwit - Princeton WTP (Sherburne)
At about 8:15 tonight, I stopped at the Princeton sewage ponds off of CR2 in Sherburne County. I was pleasantly surprised to find a single Hudsonian Godwit there, along with several Dunlin, Wilson's Phalaropes, Semipalmated Plovers, lots of Yellowlegs (mostly Lesser), and quite a number of peeps. After I left, Al Schirmacher made a quick trip out there and told me there was a second (possibly Marbled) Godwit, but in the waning light he wasn't certain of the ID. Herb Dingmann 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] Great-tailed Grackle still present
The Great-tailed Grackle was still present in McLoed Cty. at the previously posted location at 11:30 am on 5/13. The homeowner said it is singing less frequently, but still active at the rear of his property. Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
