[mou-net] Red Knot at Park Point, Duluth
While walking along the Park Point beach about 200 yards north of the airport yesterday morning, I saw one Red Knot with in a mixed flock of 5 Ruddy Turnstones, 5 Semipalmated Plovers, several Sanderlings, 20+ Semipalmated Sandpipers, and 1 Dunlin. The birds were very tame, affording great views from 20-30 feet. -- 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] Yellow-throated Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Tufted Titmouse, Whitewater State Park area
At 10 a.m. today (5/23), four other observers and I saw a Yellow-throated Warbler from a distance of 20 feet for about 10 seconds while the bird hopped in the grass in the picnic area below (north of) the Whitewater State Park Nature Store (same general area where this species occurred last May, first Winona County record, and then bred successfully). Heard what was likely the same bird singing in early afternoon on 5/22 (but could not locate it), and then again on 5/23 (when I did relocate it as it sang 50-60 feet up in a tall white pine across the entrance road south of the Nature Store, immediately adjacent to and east of Rt. 74). Please stop in the Nature Store or the park HQ to get a permit if you don't have one. Otherwise your car may be ticketed. One Louisiana Waterthrush was singing about noon along the Trout Run Creek trail about 0.5 miles south of the trailhead parking lot, which you can access by car from the Nature Store parking lot (the two lots are located about 0.5 miles apart). One Tufted Titmouse was singing at about 8 a.m. near the intersection of Rt. 39 and Calico Hill Road. This intersection is accessed by driving north on Rt. 74 from the Whitewater Park HQ, turning left (west) on Rt. 39 (after the turn the Lazy D Campgrounds will be on your right), and driving 0.9 miles to the intersection with Calico Hill Road on your right. Blue-winged Warbler, Wood Thrush, and Veery were all singing near this intersection as well. An extremely late Purple Finch was singing in a hedgerow about 0.5 miles up Calico Hill Road. Observed 102 species, including 19 species of warblers, in and around Whitewater State Park and Whitewater WMA on 5/22-23. -- 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] Least Bittern and Prothonotary Warblers, Hok-si-la Park, Lake City
Leslie McInenly, Paul Smithson and I saw 103 species today at Hok-si-la Park in Lake City and Frontenac State Park (Goodhue County), including 22 species of warblers. Best finds included a Least Bittern flushed from wet grass along the path that goes south from the boat landing parking lot on the north side of Hok-si-La Park (observed for 10 minutes from 40 feet away), plus male and female Prothonotary Warblers to the west of the same path. Two other Prothonotary Warblers singing elsewhere in Hok-si-la; also a late Bonaparte's Gull, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, 2 male Bay-breasted Warblers, 2 Mourning Warblers. Remarkable numbers (many dozens) of Am. Redstarts, Yellow, and Yellow-rumped Warblers; 8+ Canada Warblers, 10+ Wilson's Warblers. Orchard Oriole and 2 Palm Warblers at Frontenac State Park. -- 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] Prothonotary Warbler at Crosby Lake Park
Saw a male Prothonotary Warbler (which sang only once), 2 male Bay-breasted Warblers, 1 Blackburnian Warbler, 1 Black-throated Green Warbler and 10 other species of warblers plus FOY Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos and an Olive-sided Flycatcher between 7:20 and 8:20 am. today within the first 100 yards below the parking lot on the south side of Shepherd Road, intersection of Shepherd Road and Crosby Lake Road, St. Paul (Ramsey County). Also 15+ Yellow-rumped (12 on ground at once) and a Palm. -- 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] Hooded Warbler at Murphy Hanrehan
On 5/17, a Hooded Warbler was singing on the south side of the trail between trail markers 14 and 15 in Murphy Hanrehan Regional Park, Scott County. This location is about 1/2 mile east-northeast of the northeastern most part of Murphy Lake. The warbler sang five times @ 12:30 p.m., so may be on territory. If you go look for it, please stay on the trail and do not use tapes. This is not a part of the park that is off limits. Had 20 species of warblers in the park, including a Cape May and Golden-winged (but no Blue-winged or Cerulean in places where they usually occur). Also a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird building a nest. On 5/18 a.m., Golden-winged Warbler in the oaks along West River Road in South Minneapolis, just south of the ravine by the intersection with 34th Street. -- Dave Zumeta, Executive Director Minnesota Forest Resources Council dzum...@umn.edu (651) 603-0108 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] Sparrows and warblers on U of MN St. Paul campus; warblers in Mississippi River Gorge
From 2:30-3:00 p.m. today on the U of MN St. Paul campus across Buford Avenue from the bus stop just west of the Student Center, the following species were present, most feeding on the ground, some on the sidewalk: 2 Swainson's Thrush 3 Tennessee Warbler 8+ Nashville Warbler 10+ Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 5+ Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler (female) 1 Common Yellowthroat 4 Chipping Sparrow 2 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 2 Harris' Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow This morning in South Minneapolis, Golden-winged Warbler below 36th Street and West River Parkway, Blue-winged Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler plus 13 other species of warblers below stairs by 34th Street and West River Parkway. -- 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] Warblers and white pelicans
Observed 19 species of warblers on Saturday and Sunday in South Minneapolis at two locations: the Mississippi River gorge (around 36th Street and West River Road in South Minneapolis) and along the bike trail between the dog park parking area in Minnehaha Park south to Coldwater Spring (east of Rt. 55 about 0.5 - 1 mile north of the intersection of Rt. 55 and Rt. 62, just north of the airport). This morning (Sunday 5/11), observed a Connecticut Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler (all singing) at the latter location, and on Saturday 5/10, a Blue-winged Warbler, 3 Orange-crowned Warblers and 16 warbler species while leading a bird walk for the Longfellow Community Council at the former location. About 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, observed 7 White Pelicans soaring 200 feet above the intersection of Chicago and 42nd Street in South Minneapolis, an interesting place to see White Pelicans! -- 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] Pine Warbler
On Saturday, April 26, I observed one Pine Warbler singing in the old growth white pines at Boot Lake SNA. Also saw one Field Sparrow elsewhere in the SNA. One Osprey, one Lesser Yellowlegs, and one calling Common Snipe at Carlos Avery WMA. -- 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] Waterfowl at Weaver Bottoms
Observed 40 species, including 12 species of ducks, yesterday at and en route to the Weaver Bottoms along Rt. 61, just south of where the Whitewater River flows into the Mississippi River. The following are highlights (waterfowl counts are conservative): 7,000++ Canvasback at once, seen from 116th Street just above the small cemetery on the west side of Rt. 61 600+ Ring-necked Duck, same location 400+ Common Merganser, Hok-si-la Park, Lake City 130 Tundra Swan (swan migration seems delayed this year) 45 Green-winged Teal 30 Shoveler 23 Bald Eagle, various locations en route 15 Hooded Merganser 12 Pintail 11 Gadwall 11 Bufflehead 7 male Bluebirds in one flock, Sand Point parking lot east of Rt. 61, Frontenac State Park 3 Pied-billed Grebe 3 Purple Finch, Read's Landing -- 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] Bass Ponds and Old Cedar Avenue bridge
Good numbers of some interesting species at Bass Ponds and Old Cedar Avenue bridge on Saturday p.m., 9/14. 50 species total, all but two at those two locations: 16 Trumpeter Swan 8 Great Blue Heron 20+ Great Egret 2 Northern Harrier 1 Peregrine Falcon 3 Sora 30+ Franklin's Gull 2 Caspian Tern 2 Eastern Wood Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 2 House Wren 2 Marsh Wren -- 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] Great day at St. John's University campus and Albany sewage ponds
As part of St. John's Arboretum birding day on Saturday, May 18 and subsequent MOU tour to Albany sewage ponds and vicinity, I saw 130 species (121 at the two locations noted above). This included 20 species of warblers at St. John's campus (including Orange-crowned, Cape May, Pine, and Palm) , plus three more warbler species on Friday evening (including Blue-winged and Bay-breasted); 11 species of ducks; and 10 species of sparrows. Additional noteworthy sightings included 30+ Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Hudsonian Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 20++ Wilson's Phalarope, and 2 Red-necked Phalarope, all at Albany sewage ponds; and 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, at least 1 Orchard Oriole, and 1 Pine Siskin at St. John's University. Dave Zumeta, Minneapolis 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] Hok-si-la, Frontenac, Spring Lake Regional Park
Yesterday Paul Smithson and I birded Hok-si-la Park in Lake City plus Sand Point trail in Frontenac State Park and Rt. 42 just north of the Highway 61 Cannon River bridge. By 3 p.m. we saw 100 species, including 9 species of ducks at Sand Point (3 late Bufflehead, 4 Redhead, 2 Ruddy Duck), 20 species of warblers (including Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Bay-breasted, Cape May at Hok-si-la), and a sub-adult Orchard Oriole and Rufous-sided Towhee along Rt. 42 1/2 mile southeast of the intersection with Rt. 61. Later in the p.m. I saw or heard 10 species of sparrows (including 8 Harris Sparrows at once) between the entrance to Spring Lake Regional Park (near Hastings) and the model airplane parking lot in the park. The area north of the brown sign for the model airplane area was most productive, plus around the airplane parking lot. Had towhee plus 11 species of sparrows for the day, great views of 21 species of warblers thanks to few leaves being in the way, and 116 species total. Dave Zumeta, Minneapolis 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] Whitewater State Park sightings
Saturday, May 11, 8:30 a.m., several of us relocated the singing Yellow-throated Warbler by the Whitewater State Park nature store parking lots, enjoying views from as close as 15 feet while the bird foraged along branches and sang. It was on the picnic grounds side of the parking lot toward the Whitewater River and swimming beach. Later yesterday morning, we also saw four Louisiana Waterthrush in several locations along the Whitewater River and a small tributary in the vicinity of the group campground. Other somewhat surprising sightings included a flyover Pine Siskin, and, at the state park headquarters feeders, an adult Red-headed Woodpecker coming to the feeder. The feeders were incredible, with outstanding views of 1 Lincoln's Sparrow, 2 White-crowned Sparrows, 3 female Purple Finches, plus 12+ Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and several Northern Orioles at once and many other species. Mid-afternoon yesterday had a Horned Grebe on a flooded area north of Rt. 74 several miles east of Alba. Dave Zumeta, Minneapolis 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] T.S. Roberts Sanctuary and Lake Harriet area
At 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, enjoyed outstanding views of male Hooded Warbler from as close as 15 feet while it fed in the open on the ground, chipping loudly at times. This was one of 17 warblers seen at or near T. S. Roberts on Sunday. About 8:15 a.m., in the parkland just west of King's Highway between 40th and 41st Streets, heard song of and briefly saw an Orchard Oriole, which then flew to the south along King's Highway. In the same location shortly before 2:00 p.m., saw a very late Fox Sparrow and a White-crowned sparrow feeding in the lilac hedges. About 1:30 p.m., saw several Horned Grebes, 1 Forster's Tern, plus 9 of the 17 warbler species (including Blackburnian, Wilson's, and Palm) feeding on or near the ground along the northern shore of Lake Harriet. Dave Zumeta, Minneapolis 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] Yellow-throated Warbler
This morning (Friday, May 10) between 10:30 a.m. and noon, three companions and I had excellent views of a singing male Yellow-throated Warbler at Whitewater State Park. The bird was in mature hardwoods and white pine around the parking lot for the state park nature store, as well as in the adjacent picnic area across the Whitewater River from the swimming beach. The bird was white on the belly with a bright yellow upper breast and throat, with distinct black markings on the sides of the yellow throat and breast. It was gray on the back and crown, with a black facial patch, a white patch behind the black patch, and a distinct white line over the eye. It had two white wing bars. Its song was atypical of this species, although somewhat reminiscent of a softer, quieter Louisiana Waterthrush song, especially in that it ascended at the end, although it did not descend at the beginning and middle of the song like a Louisiana Waterthrush song would. This species was not on Bob Janssen's Whitewater State Park bird list, so it appears to be a new species record for the park. I have seen this species once before in 31+ years of birding in Minnesota, but numerous times while living for 3 years in Indiana as well as while birding elsewhere in the eastern and southern U.S. -- Dave Zumeta, Minneapolis . 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] South Minneapolis migrants
A brief walk down to the Mississippi River from West River Road near 34th Street late this afternoon yielded 5 species of warblers feeding on or near the ground: scores of Yellow-rumped, 2 Black-and-white, 2 Orange-crowned, 1 Nashville, 1 Northern Waterthrush, plus 1 Lincoln's Sparrow and several Rough-winged Swallows. Also saw 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers this evening in the nearby neighborhood to the west. 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] 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] MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Saw 60 species today (April 20) at the MNVNWR headquarters and at Old Cedar Avenue bridge. The latter involved walking 1.0m to 1.5 miles west of the parking lot, and then a 90 degree left along a running stream down toward the open water. This is where the swan and most of the ducks, loons, grebes, and gulls were seen. Water proof boots are recommended. Highlights include: Tundra Swan 1 12 species of ducks, including good numbers (20+) of Wood Duck, N. Shoveler, 20 Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, and Common Merganser Common Loon 2 Pied-billed Grebe 4 Horned Grebe 1 male in breeding plumage Great Blue Heron 12+ Great Egret 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Bald Eagle 2 N. Harrier 1 Sandhill Crane 3 (in marsh below MNVNWR headquarters) Franklin's Gull 2 Ring-billed Gull 300+ Herring Gull 10+ Barred Owl 3, (all calling, two at once below MNVNWR headquarters) N. Flicker 1 Brown Creeper 3 (one singing) Winter Wren 3 (one singing lightly) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Hermit Thrush 20+ (most I have ever seen in 31+ years of Minnesota birding) Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Am. Tree Sparrow 10+ (at and on hill below feeders at MNVNWR headquarters) Fox Sparrow 30+ (25+ at and on hill below feeders at MNVNWR headquarters, most I have ever seen in one day) Song Sparrow 10+ Swamp Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 40+ Purple Finch 1 (at feeder at MNVMWR headquarters) Pine Sisken 3 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] Good birding in bad weather in South Minneapolis
From 7:30-8:45 a.m. this morning, in spite of a stiff wind and some sleet/snow, I observed 37 species along the Mississippi River in South Minneapolis (33rd Street south to 36th Street, Edmund Boulevard east to the river, plus a brief walk two blocks west of Edmund Boulevard on 34th Street) (some common species omitted; FOY=first of year): Tundra Swan 45 (latest spring migration date in 26 years of records for this area) Wood Duck 2 Common Merganser 10 Pied-billed Grebe 1 (rare on this reach of the Mississippi) Osprey 1 (FOY) (rare on this reach of the Mississippi) Bald Eagle 1 Ring-billed Gull 20+ Barred Owl 1 (sleeping by trail below river bluff, 30 feet up) Belted Kingfisher 1 (FOY) Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Eastern Phoebe 6 (feeding on sand at river's edge, 4 of them in one location) Tree Swallow 20+ (FOY) Brown Creeper 1 Winter Wren 1 (FOY) Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 (FOY) Hermit Thrush 1 (FOY) Am. Robin 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (FOY) Fox Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 1 House Finch 1 (singing) Purple Finch 1 (singing) Common Redpoll 5 (also a pair at thistle feeder yesterday) Pine Siskin 2 Am. Goldfinch 2 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] Good day at Bass Ponds
In spite of a cool day and stiff winds, saw 44 species and some good spring migrants at Bass Ponds and Minnesota Valley NWR HQ feeders yesterday (March 31) afternoon in 3 hours, including the following (not all listed below): Wood Duck 3 Gadwall 10 N. Shoveler 26 Green-winged Teal 2 Canvasback 7 Ring-necked Duck 80 Lesser Scaup 90 Bufflehead 6 C. Goldeneye 14 Hooded Merganser 40 Common Merganser 45 Ruddy Duck 3 Wild Turkey 1 Pied-billed Grebe 5 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 3 Bald Eagle 6 (one on nest) N. Harrier 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Am. Kestrel 1 Am. Coot 50 Killdeer 1 Ring-billed Gull 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Brown Creeper 1 Am. Robin 7 Am. Tree Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Red-winged Blackbird 8 Pine Sisken (South Minneapolis: up to 25 present all winter at my feeder) 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] Rough-legged hawk
This afternoon about 2:45 p.m. I saw a Rough-legged Hawk in a tree next to I-35 on the east side of the highway 1/2 - 3/4 mile north of mile marker 178 and the exit for Beroun in Pine County. 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] Red Crossbill near Ford bridge
At 10:45 a.m. on Saturday 10/20, I saw a male Red Crossbill by the upper parking lot at the Army Corps Locks and Dam #1 on the Minneapolis side of the Mississippi River just north of the Ford bridge in South Minneapolis. The bird was flying from north to south calling kip-kip-kip, and landed at the top of the tallest spruce to the southwest of the lot. It remained there for about one minute, then flew southeast over the Ford bridge toward the St. Paul side of the river. There are quite a few conifers along the East River Road south of the Ford bridge on the west side of the former Ford plant, so it may have been headed there. Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
