Re: [mou-net] Wayzata Bay
Looking north from Excelsior Commons Park, there are hundreds of common mergansers...gathering on Lake Minnetonka about at least a hundred yards out. Eagles perched near the shoreline and flying overhead. Quite the site. Just wish my scope wasn't in for repair! Beth Potter Excelsior On Mon, Dec 4, 2023 at 2:03 PM Howard Towle < 2fdb906c067f-dmarc-requ...@lists.umn.edu> wrote: > Expanding a little on what Kim has said, Common Mergansers stage in late > fall every year on Lake Minnetonka and remain until the lake freezes over. > The Excelsior Christmas Bird Count includes most of Lake Minnetonka and on > about 1/4 of our counts, a portion of the lake (particularly Smith and > Browns bays) will be open. On those years, we often count well over a > thousand mergansers. The record year was 2015 when a count of approximately > 13,000 Common Mergansers was estimated. The biggest problem, as others have > noted, is there is essentially no public space on which to view these bays. > > Howard Towle > Golden Valley, MN > > > On Dec 4, 2023, at 12:12 PM, Kim R Eckert wrote: > > > > Based on today's and other recent reports on mou-net, there is little or > no doubt in my mind that the posting of a second-hand report a few days ago > about “thousands" of Common Loons at Lake Minnetonka actually involved > misidentified Common Mergansers. I have frequently witnessed non-birders > and beginners mistake mergansers for loons. – Kim Eckert, Duluth > > > > > > On Dec 4, 2023, at 10:55 AM, Jim Williams wrote: > > > > Mics-morn Wayzata Bay 100s common mergs stretched across mid-bay east to > west. Too distant and hazy to distinguish loons. Unusual, no eagles seen > hunting or in trees at bay entrance. Did not check Cty Road 15 shore. > > > > Jim Williams > > Birding columnist > > Minneapolis StarTribune > > startribune.com/variety/homeandgarden > > > > > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice > social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > > > > > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice > social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
Re: [mou-net] Wayzata Bay
Expanding a little on what Kim has said, Common Mergansers stage in late fall every year on Lake Minnetonka and remain until the lake freezes over. The Excelsior Christmas Bird Count includes most of Lake Minnetonka and on about 1/4 of our counts, a portion of the lake (particularly Smith and Browns bays) will be open. On those years, we often count well over a thousand mergansers. The record year was 2015 when a count of approximately 13,000 Common Mergansers was estimated. The biggest problem, as others have noted, is there is essentially no public space on which to view these bays. Howard Towle Golden Valley, MN > On Dec 4, 2023, at 12:12 PM, Kim R Eckert wrote: > > Based on today's and other recent reports on mou-net, there is little or no > doubt in my mind that the posting of a second-hand report a few days ago > about “thousands" of Common Loons at Lake Minnetonka actually involved > misidentified Common Mergansers. I have frequently witnessed non-birders and > beginners mistake mergansers for loons. – Kim Eckert, Duluth > > > On Dec 4, 2023, at 10:55 AM, Jim Williams wrote: > > Mics-morn Wayzata Bay 100s common mergs stretched across mid-bay east to > west. Too distant and hazy to distinguish loons. Unusual, no eagles seen > hunting or in trees at bay entrance. Did not check Cty Road 15 shore. > > Jim Williams > Birding columnist > Minneapolis StarTribune > startribune.com/variety/homeandgarden > > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
Re: [mou-net] Wayzata Bay
Thank you, Kim. We count on you to keep us observant and honest birders. ☺️ Carol Cummins 612-481-3430 carolcummin...@gmail.com > On Dec 4, 2023, at 9:12 PM, Kim R Eckert wrote: > > Based on today's and other recent reports on mou-net, there is little or no > doubt in my mind that the posting of a second-hand report a few days ago > about “thousands" of Common Loons at Lake Minnetonka actually involved > misidentified Common Mergansers. I have frequently witnessed non-birders and > beginners mistake mergansers for loons. – Kim Eckert, Duluth > > > On Dec 4, 2023, at 10:55 AM, Jim Williams wrote: > > Mics-morn Wayzata Bay 100s common mergs stretched across mid-bay east to > west. Too distant and hazy to distinguish loons. Unusual, no eagles seen > hunting or in trees at bay entrance. Did not check Cty Road 15 shore. > > Jim Williams > Birding columnist > Minneapolis StarTribune > startribune.com/variety/homeandgarden > > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
Re: [mou-net] Wayzata Bay
Based on today's and other recent reports on mou-net, there is little or no doubt in my mind that the posting of a second-hand report a few days ago about “thousands" of Common Loons at Lake Minnetonka actually involved misidentified Common Mergansers. I have frequently witnessed non-birders and beginners mistake mergansers for loons. – Kim Eckert, Duluth On Dec 4, 2023, at 10:55 AM, Jim Williams wrote: Mics-morn Wayzata Bay 100s common mergs stretched across mid-bay east to west. Too distant and hazy to distinguish loons. Unusual, no eagles seen hunting or in trees at bay entrance. Did not check Cty Road 15 shore. Jim Williams Birding columnist Minneapolis StarTribune startribune.com/variety/homeandgarden General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
[mou-net] Spell check
I hate spell check. My last note on Wayzata Bay (not Bat) birds was intended to be begin "Mid-morn ..." not as interpreted by Apple's nonsense understanding of what I "should" have said. I know -- proofread. You'd think I know that. Jim Jim Williams Birding columnist Minneapolis StarTribune startribune.com/variety/homeandgarden General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
[mou-net] Wayzata Bat
Mics-morn Wayzata Bay 100s common mergs stretched across mid-bay east to west. Too distant and hazy to distinguish loons. Unusual, no eagles seen hunting or in trees at bay entrance. Did not check Cty Road 15 shore. Jim Williams Birding columnist Minneapolis StarTribune startribune.com/variety/homeandgarden General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
[mou-net] Field trip opportunity: Blue Lake Sewage Lagoons, Dec 19th
Hello, We will be hosting a field trip led by Andy Forbes on December 19th at 9AM to Blue Lake Sewage Lagoons in Shakopee. This location attracts waterfowl in the winter season, especially as surrounding bodies of water start to freeze this time of year. Also notable is the potential for sparrows and passerines to be lingering near the lagoons in the natural habitats of the NWR itself. The event will be limited to 10 participants, registration via Signup Genius event page is required. Please navigate to the following link for more information and to register: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A9AC2FA5FFCE9-45453140-blue#/ Please reach out to me with any questions. Best, Trey Weaver MOU Field Trip Coordinator General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.