[mou-net] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Thursday, April 24, 2018

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, April 26, 2018
sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may also
see this report on the Chamber of Commerce website: 
 
https://www.visitdetroitlakes.com/birding-report
 
Spring has finally come to the northwest, and migration is really heating
up. Numbers of early migrants are increasing daily, although the species
count does not seem to be increasing with the same speed. All of the
expected ducks have been reported , and moving north as the ice disappears;
the raptors are here in force; and some gulls are showing up. Very few
shorebirds have been reported. The blackbird crowd has arrived, and there
are innumerable dark-eyed juncos in all the yards which are ringing with the
frenzied singing of hundreds of juncos and purple finches. To date , few
sparrows have reached the northwest, but in the last two days, many folks
are reporting unusual numbers of fox sparrows this spring. We should see
more sparrows in the next few days.
 
In Lake of the Woods County, Gretchen Mehmel reported that there were RED
CROSSBILLS  at Norris Camp on April 24.
 
A first county record AMERICAN AVOCET  was reported by Doug Johnson and
Becca Engdahl  on April 23 at the Mississippi River entrance to Lake Bemidji
in Beltrami County. A FORSTER'S TERN  was also seen there.
 
Connie Cox , reporting from Itasca SP in Clearwater County, listed  many
ducks, TUNDRA SWAN,  all the usual raptors, SANDHILL CRANE, TREE SWALLOW,
EASTERN PHOEBE, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER,  and many other species arriving this week.
 
Agassiz NWR in Marshall County reported a WHITE-FACED IBIS  at Headquarters
Pool on April 26.
 
>From Pennington County, Gary Tischer saw an AMERICAN COOT  in Thief River
Falls on April 22. Eight TURKEY VULTURES  were seen flying over the city on
Monday, April 23.  In the river, I  have seen PIED-BILLED GREBES, WOOD
DUCKS, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD,  and HOODED MERGANSER. Here in the yard
I had a visit from both a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK  on April 22, and a COOPER'S
HAWK  on April 23.  Also recorded this week were one YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
and a flock of TUNDRA SWANS.
 
Leon Thoreson reported what may be the last SNOWY OWL in Polk County this
spring on April 20. A BROWN THRASHER  was seen in his yard near Climax.
Sandy Aubol reported all the expected ducks this week, and  lots of TINDRA
SWANS  in the fields. On April 20, she observed a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
flyover, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK  visited her yard. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK
was seen on April 22. At the Brandt- Angus impoundment she saw MARBLED
GODWIT, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and TREE SWALLOWS. On
April 23, she found 42 RED-NECKED GREBES, 4 HORNED GREBES, and a WESTERN
GREBE  in the Grand Marais Creek east of East Grand Forks; RING-BILLED
GULLS, FRANKLIN'S GULL, and BONAPARTE'S GULL were seen at the  East Grand
Forks WTP.
 
A HORNED GREBE  was seen in Detroit Lakes in Becker County, and a
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET  at Dunton Locks. Gary Tischer found many FOX SPARROWS
just south of Tamarack NWR, and also reported a BELTED KINGFISHER  and
COMMON LOON  in the county on April 25. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER  was
observed by Shawn Goodchild at Fig Lake Farm on April 20.
 
>From Hubbard County, Connie Cox reported a COMMON LOON  in the Fishhook
River at Park Rapids . Marshall Howe mentioned TUNDRA SWAN, GREATER
YELLOWLEGS , YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER,  FOX SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER,
and PURPLE FINCH  on April 22. By April 24 there were large numbers of FOX
SPARROWS, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and they were joined by SONG SPARROW,
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.
 
In Otter Tail County, Alma Ronningen observed TURKEY VULTURE, OSPREY, and
TREE SWALLOWS  on April 22. Also this week NORTHERN FLICKER and
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER  flew in. Gary Otnes found a FRANKLIN'S GULL  at the
Mistinka River, and an EASTERN PHOEBE  arrived in his yard.
 
In Grant County, the North Ottawa Impoundment has not disappointed this
spring. A long list of ducks and shorebirds were reported there this week.
Of interest was a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE  first reported there on April 21.
Other interesting species included were SNOWY EGRET, AMERICAN AVOCET, EARED
GREBE, HORNED GREBE, a fly over of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, TREE
SWALLOWS, AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. Both
MARBLED GODWITS, and HUDSONIAN GODWITS  were seen there. The species there
are  changing daily, so one never knows what will be seen on any given day.
A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE  was found in the town of Wendell on April 26.
 
Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than
Thursday each week, at ajjop...@mncable.net 
OR call the Detroit Lakes Chamber's numbers 218-847-5743 or 218- 847-9202.
Please include the county where the sighting took place. The next scheduled
update of thi

Re: [mou-net] Salt Lake Preview - Conditions + EVENING GROSBEAK!!

[Nancy Sundeen]

Gary Swanson and I found the 11 Ibis yesterday morning on the east side of 75. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 25, 2018, at 9:22 PM, Jason Frank  wrote:
> 
> Setting out early this morning, the major lakes and sloughs are still
> mostly covered in ice. Edges tend to be open, but due to the recent
> snows, there are no mudflats for shorebirds. As was anticipated, the
> best sites will be flooded fields. And there are plenty.
> 
> Snow is pretty much gone. Montevideo was expected to flood, but as of
> this afternoon, it has not, and the water is receding.
> 
> Many low-lying township (dirt) roads in the territory are closed and
> flooded, particularly those north of 212 along tributaries of the LqP
> River. This includes Lac qui Parle County Park, and the Lower
> Campground of Lac qui Parle State Park. Salt Lake itself is still
> about 80% ice-covered, with few birds there this afternoon. We can't
> access it from the north.
> 
> I would expect the ice to start breaking apart on Saturday.
> 
> There was a lot less snow in the northern territory, so roads aren't
> so bad any more. 4 wheel drive should not be needed for the most part.
> 
> In the southern part of our range, Sioux Nation WMA is still iced, and
> the roads leading to it from the north are flooded over.
> 
> I met Ron Erpeldging at Plover Prairie this morning to search for
> Sharp-Tailed Grouse, but we found none. There were plenty of Snipe,
> Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Song Sparrows, and...
> best of all... several pairs of MARBLED GODWITS flying and calling
> between Plover Prairie extending eastward in the wet, short pastures
> towards Louisburg. We noted a conspicuous lack of Green-Winged Teals,
> though otherwise, the Usual Duckspects are here in abundance. It will
> be a crap-shoot to guess which flooded fields they'll be frequenting
> by Saturday.
> 
> Haydenville WMA was full of waterfowl this morning, but the mud
> islands are gone. It will be best viewed in the evening, as viewing it
> in the morning means looking straight into a low-angled sun.
> 
> Tree Swallows and Yellow Headed Blackbirds are back. Chorus and
> Leopard Frogs are calling. There was 1 Rough-Legged Hawk soaring over
> Plover Prairie, one of two I saw today. Cooper's and Sharp-Shinned
> Hawks are here. I spotted 5 Merlins in central Lac qui Parle County.
> Great Egrets, American Bitterns, Bonaparte's Gulls, and Trumpeter
> Swans are also in the area. Lots of Flickers. Bald Eagles are on nests
> around the territory.
> 
> I did not relocate the White Faced Ibises previously reported by
> Daniel Orr and Ken Larson, at 470th south of Hwy 7, at the edge of Lac
> qui Parle WMA west of Correll.
> 
> I spoke to Garrett Wee this afternoon, and he said that Miedd Lake and
> Cottonwood Lake have high water with no shoreline; there are no
> shorebirds of note in the southern part of our range, but he did find
> a Long-Eared Owl at Miedd Lake earlier this week.
> 
> The dam at the south end of Lac qui Parle Refuge/State Park was
> conspicuously devoid of waterfowl at Noon today, though there were
> quite a few Pelicans.
> 
> Christine Kleven at the Lac qui Parle SP Visitor Center told me this
> afternoon that a female EVENING GROSBEAK is still showing up
> sporadically at the feeders there; she has a habit of appearing around
> 9:30 AM and again around 11:30 AM. I was pleasantly surprised to learn
> this, and glad I stopped in! This is one wayward Grosbeak! Christine
> has a picture of it, from this week.
> 
> Common Redpolls and Juncos are still around in western Yellow Medicine
> County, near the Gary SD border. The latest I've ever seen!
> 
> Eastern Bluebirds are here. Woodcocks are PEENTING tonight in western
> Yellow Medicine County.
> 
> -- 
> Jason M. Frank
> Founder and Vice President,
> Luddite Ornithologists League (LOL)
> 
> jmfran...@gmail.com
> From the Lovely Land of Lac qui Parle
> https://turnstonecreations.smugmug.com/
> 
> Sent from my invisible blue Homing Pigeon
> 
> 
> 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] Crane Meadows NWR Bird Walk

[Kimberly Emerson]

The annual Spring Bird Walk is scheduled for Saturday, May 5th at Crane
Meadows National Wildlife Refuge! Meet at the refuge headquarters at 8am.
Extra binoculars will be available for use. Refreshments will be served
after the walk in the Sedge Meadow Classroom. This event is free and open
to the public.

Crane Meadows NWR
19502 Iris Rd.
Little Falls, MN 56345

Questions, please call 320-632-1575


Kimberly Emerson


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 - It's spring (long)

[Steve Weston]

It's spring! It's spring!!!

The snow is gone from the back yard and about half the lake is open water.
The yard is snow free, but there have been few transient birds around. The
crocuses are in bloom and Siberian squill are just beginning to flower in
the front yard. Everything is still brown, except for the evergreen vinca
and the mosses, which are in flower or whatever a non-flowering plant does.
A few of the native forbs are beginning to peek out.

It has been an awesome week of birding! Last Saturday I went with a group
from the Hastings Bird Festival down to Lake Byllesby on the border of
Goodhue and Dakota counties and found a riot of waterfowl, counting some 30
species with awesome looks at a Cinnamon Teal and horned and red-necked
grebes, plus 5 species of shorebirds. There were also dancing Sandhill
Cranes, terns, and bonnie gulls, and passarines including Fox and Song
Sparrows, Bluebirds, Phoebe, shrike, sapsucker, and Yellow-rumps. Hawks
included Harrier and both accipiters. And, fields of Tundra Swans.

Monday got better, when 2 Whooping Cranes were seen flying into the 180th
Street marsh. They were later ID'd as two males from the Wisconsin or
"eastern" flock. Following guidelines from the Fish and Wildlife Service
they were not posted on social media. Sorry. If it is any consolation, they
were on the far shore and I got lousy photos. I stayed until nightfall
listening to chorus frogs playing their combs, Yellowlegs in flight,
Pied-bills, Soras, Mallards, Blue-winged Teal calling, coyotes singing, and
several night sounds I couldn't quite ID.

Tuesday morning yielded a probable new yard bird as I could hear Sandhill
Cranes calling from the athletic fields a couple of blocks away. By late in
the day, reports were that the Whoopers had left.

Tomorrow we head to western Minnesota for this weekend's Salt Lake Birding
Weekend. Come one, come all. It's free and there is no registration. Check
out http://moumn.org/saltlake/



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] Coon Rapids Dam Grebe Update, Thurs. Morning (Anoka County)

[Refsnider]

In the boat access lagoon on the Coon Rapids side of the dam:

Western Grebe - 1
Red-necked Grebe - 1
Eared Grebe - 2
Horned Grebes - a dozen or so
Ruddy Ducks - fewer than yesterday, but still several dozen
Northern Shoveler - 1 male
Blue-winged Teal - 1 male

Oddly, we saw no Pied-billed Grebes at the dam or on our shoreline walk 
up to the north end of the park.


Also of interest:

another Red-necked Grebe in the river upstream
Dozens of Horned Grebes farther upstream
Common Loon - at least 6
Bonaparte's Gulls
American White Pelicans
Rough-winged Swallow - FOY for us

Ron & Maureen Refsnider


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] Snowy white Owl

[Lisa McGinn]

I was driving north on Manning Ave just across  from Lake Elmo Airport 
yesterday at noon when I saw a beautiful Snowy Owl perched on rope of an 
electrical pole .  Looked like it was hunting or at least keeping an eye out 
for food in the open areas around it. Beautiful bird!
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] S

[Lisa McGinn]

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