[mou-net] Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Yellow Medicine County 6/7/2014
Hi, Late this afternoon Scott Meyer and I found a Eurasian Tree Sparrow in western Yellow Medicine County. It was at the bridge over Florida Creek on 140th Street, just north of 250th Ave, about two miles west of county 15 and 3 miles north of MN 68; the same location as the Say's Phoebe from a few years ago. It was first seen on the bridge railing as we approached from the south, the chestnut cap was immediately obvious, and Scott called out "Eurasian Tree Sparrow!". Over the next hour or so we saw the bird many tmes, but generally for just a few seconds before it would disappear into the leaves or under the bridge. It was usually accompanied by two male House Sparrows, providing good opportunities for comparison, the bird was noticeably smaller than the House Sparrows, with a reddish brown crown, white cheek patch with a black spot, and white collar. Photographs were obtained but won't be available until late tomorrow. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow did not stray far from the bridge for the entire time we were present, and was observed to to fly under the bridge several times. Doug Kieser Scott Meyer 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] Pope County
We birded for a short time on Friday morning. There were at least 3 Bobolinks apparently defending territories across the road from my farm. Also calling from the same area were at least 3 Sedge Wrens, 1 Clay-colored Sparrow, a couple Song Sparrows, 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and the usual pheasants crowing. Speaking of Yellow-headed Blackbirds, they were in many large and small cattail marshes around the area. I was disappointed to notice that the large Purple Martin colony west of my farm was not hosting many martins. It appeared the colony is not well maintained this year and was instead hosting Starlings. I plan to contact the owners to determine if they are abandoning the colony. In the wooded area of Barsness Park, Glenwood: Olive-sided and Great-crested FC, Indigo Bunting, plus the usual Redstarts, House Wrens, Pewees. 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
[mou-net] MOU field trip to Cannon River Wilderness - Rice County
On Saturday 4 people made it to the Cannon River Wilderness Rice Co. Park. Because of rain and lightning we did the 1st part of the outing at a Northfield coffee shop. Then, when the storm past and it was safe on the trail, we went out to hike the very wet western section of the park. Here is a listing of the birds detected: Cannon River Wilderness Area--West Unit, Rice, US-MN Jun 7, 2014 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.5 mile(s) 25 species Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Red-eyed Vireo 5 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 2 Tree Swallow 18 Barn Swallow 7 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 House Wren 5 American Robin 1 Gray Catbird 1 Cedar Waxwing 1 Ovenbird 1 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 8 Song Sparrow 2 Scarlet Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 -- KEVIN D. SMITH 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] About the Metro
This morning I was delighted to find a hen Hooded Merganser assembling her brood of about 14 brand new hatchlings in the water by one of our houses. They were a mass of energy all closely clumped by her. Even with a photo, it was impossible to get an accurate count. Hopefully she will bring them back later so we can get a second chance on the count. Nearby four more females swam. At least two have been hanging around here. No doubt the house was the depository for more than one hen's eggs. This is the largest Hoody brood that I have seen here, although I have seen much larger elsewhere. It is also the first brood that I have seen of any size. This has been a poor reproductive year so far for most ducks in this area. On Wednesday a boy scout leader that I had trained for the bird studies merit badge stopped by and reported that he had had trouble finding the 20 species for the requirement down at the scout reservation by Cannon Falls. I asked him if he had heard the Red-eyed Vireo and opened my Sibley Ap on my phone and played its song. I immediately had an answer from the tree tops. I then also recommended he also learn the Pewee song, but before I played it, it started singing. Yesterday in the yard we had a Broad-winged Hawk whistling and could hear a Warbling Vireo. This is the first year that I can remember a Warbling Vireo staying for the breeding. We also had crows mobbing something in the forest nearby, but I did not climb the fence to chase it. Also, in lake I saw a couple of hatchling painted turtles. 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] West Central Minnesota - 6/6/14
June 6, 2014 I enjoyed an amazing day of birding in West Central Minnesota with Alyssa DeRubeis, on Friday. We started at Felton Prairie and then spent time at Buffalo River State park. Next we headed down to Herman and ended the day at the Sand Dunes State Forest. Here are some of the highlights from the day: Gray Partridge - 10:50 am - Clay county - 170th St. N, about 1/4 mile North of CR26. Two Gray Partridge were observed on the East side of the road and then observed flying west and landing out of sight in a field on the West side of the road. Greater Prairie Chicken - 12:30 pm - Clay County - 170th St N, about 1/4 mile North of the Cattle guard. Two Greater Prairie Chickens were observed in flight at this location. Snowy Egret - 7:18 pm - Pope County - SE corner of the intersection of CR 15 and Highway 55. An adult plumaged Snowy Egret was observed for about one minute in with a flock of about 30 Great Egrets, while in flight. The birds were observed in flight over the WPA at this location and we were unable to find them again after our initial observation. We also observed a number of other small flocks of Great Egrets flying in a NW direction from this location. But were unsuccessful in figuring out where those were heading to either. Cattle Egret - 8:15 am - Douglas County - I 94, just Southeast of the Alexandria exit. We observed a nice fly over of an adult Cattle Egret. Black-necked Stilt - 6:05 pm - Grant County - Herman WTP - We were able to see the pair of Black-necked Stilts that are nesting at the Herman WTP. Upland Sandpiper - 12:15 pm - Clay County - 170th St N, about 1/2 mile North of the Cattle guard. We observed this bird in flight on the East side of the road. Whimbrel - 11:07 am - Clay County - 170th St N, about 1/2 mile North of the Cattle guard. This bird was first spotted and identified by Alyssa. When it flew into a puddle in the road, just to our South. It was then chased out by a Marbled Godwit. But we were still able to view and photograph the bird as it walked in the field to the East of the road. If this sighting is accepted it would be the second record for this species in Clay county. Marbled Godwit - Clay County - 170th St N, past the Cattle guard. There were at least 3 pairs of Marbled Godwits observed in the pasture North of the cattle guard. Eurasian Collared-Dove - 7:03 pm - Douglas County - Kensington, along Tower street, just East of Grand Ave. Eastern Whip-poor-will - 10:00 - 10:20 pm - Sherburne County - Sand Dune State Forest. We heard at least 7 Whip-poor-will's, near the Lake Anne Campground in the Sand Dunes State Forest. Chestnut-collared Longspur - 11:45 - 1:05 pm - Clay County - 2170th St N, for the first mile North of the Cattle guard. There were at least 3 pairs of Chestnut-collared Longspurs observed on the East side of 170th St N. These birds were observed from about 1/2 mile to 1.5 miles North of the Cattle guard. Spotted Towhee - 3:15 pm - Clay County - Buffalo River State Park - We able to relocate both the Spotted & Eastern Towhee's first reported by Mark Otnes at the park. The directions on the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report, for Thursday, June 5, 2014, worked great in re-finding these birds. Craig Mandel Minnetonka, Hennepin County egretc...@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
