[mou-net] Great Midwest Crane Fest

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I'm posting this on behalf of Madison Tebbe, Exec. Program Asst at the
International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI, since I think it will be of
interest to Minnesota birders as well:

The International Crane Foundation is hosting the first annual *Great
Midwest Crane Fest* this fall, November 10th-12th, to celebrate the annual
migration of Sandhill Cranes through Wisconsin. We’ve partnered with the
Aldo Leopold Foundation and we will be hosting crane viewing tours,
wildlife photography workshops, conservation lectures, nature walks, etc.

*INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION
*

GRH


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[mou-net] Sept/Oct issue of MOU newsletter

[Gerald Hoekstra]

If you already received a notice with a link to the September/October issue
of the MOU newsletter, my apologies for the duplication. But I learned
recently that the software that MOU uses to send the automated message when
I post a new issue only sends the message to a small number of members,
that it doesn't go to everyone. (In fact, this time I was one of those who
did not receive the automated message.)

In any case, the new issue is now available and here is the link:
https://moumn.org/newsletter/issues/2022-09.pdf

Good birding!

Gerald Hoekstra
Editor, Minnesota Birding


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[mou-net] January issue of MOU newsletter

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I have heard from a number of MOU members that they did not receive the
email message with the link to the January/February issue of the
newsletter. That notice is supposed to go out automatically to all members
when the new issue is posted. If you are one of who did not receive the
email, here is the link to the issue:

https://moumn.org/newsletter/issues/2022-01.pdf

Of course, the latest issue can be accessed anytime through the link at the
top of the MOU home page.

Happy New Year to all. And wishes for a year of good birding!

Gerald Hoekstra
Editor, Minnesota Birding


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[mou-net] Call for volunteer MOU Calendar editor for MOU newsletter

[Gerald Hoekstra]

MOU members,

I'm looking for a volunteer to serve as editor for the MOU Calendar of
birding events that appears in each issue of the MOU newsletter. The
responsibility is to gather notices of activities and events of interest to
Minnesota birders from various organizations for the two-month period of
each issue (Minnesota Birding is bi-monthly, so there are six issues per
year) and put them in presentable format. Ability to work with a word
processor such as Microsoft Word or Apple Pages is necessary.

I will provide you with a list of organizations that regularly offer
events. Some notices will be sent to you by the organizations, others can
be gleaned from websites, and some may require contacting an individual
from the organization.

Please contact me if you are interested in serving the MOU in this capacity.

Gerald Hoekstra
Editor, Minnesota Birding
hoeks...@stolaf.edu


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[mou-net] Deep Fake Birdsong talk

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Looks interesting.

*Deep Fake Birdsong - Artist Talk*
Artists Kelly Heaton and Johann Diedrick will talk about their
collaborative project, “Deep Fake Birdsong” (2020), in which they explore
the expressiveness of analog electronics to generate waveforms that sound
surprisingly like real birds.
The team will discuss the promise and pitfalls of using artificial
intelligence to make sense of life-like sounds, distinguish real birds from
fakes, and to accurately identify different species of bird.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/deep-fake-birdsong-artist-talk-tickets-120040575593

*Gerry H.*


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[mou-net] MOU newsletter September/October issue now available

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Hi, MOU Birders,

I posted the September/October issue of the newsletter on the MOU website
on Monday. An email notice with a link to the pdf is supposed to
automatically go out to all MOU members, but that did not happen. I am
trying to get this matter resolved, but in the meantime, I wanted to let
you know that the newsletter is available. Unfortunately, I am able to send
this message only to those who have signed up for MOU.NET, not to the
entire membership.

You can access the newsletter by pasting the following in your browser or
by clicking on the link at the top of the MOU home page.

https://moumn.org/newsletter/issues/2020-09.pdf

Gerry Hoekstra
Editor, *Minnesota Birding*


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[mou-net] Correction of newsletter posting

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The link to the new issue of the MOU newsletter will actually bring up the
July issue, not the September issue as the email incorrectly stated.

Gerry Hoekstra
Editor, Minnesota Birding


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[mou-net] Goodhue County Ibis

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith has an ibis (White-faced?) at Treasure Island in the ponds
behind the casino (Goodhue County). Also American Avocets. (He called and
asked me to post this for him.)


Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Steele Co. Ruddy Turnstones

[Gerald Hoekstra]

There were eight Ruddy Turnstones in the Armstrong Wetland Restoration late
this afternoon. Also Baird's, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers, plus
several large flocks of peeps farther out that didn't land in a spot that
allowed scope viewing.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Tiffany Bottoms Bird Train event

[Gerald Hoekstra]

(Posted on behalf of Minenapolis Audubon. GH)

Tiffany Bottoms Bird Train on the Chippewa River
(about 5 miles south of Durand, WI)
May 11 at 1-5 PM  Boarding at 12:45

The train is a small car open air trip for about 5 miles along the river.
Several stops are made along the way to look for migrating birds.  Guides
are along to help identify the approximately 70 species usually seen, such
as Golden winged warbler, Olive-sided FC, BB Cuckoo, Scarlet  tanager, etc.
Cost is $20/ person - ($15 for Audubon members).  Send a check to - Susan
Tertell, 2841 50th Ave S,  Minneapolis, MN 55406  - include email address.
Bring liquids, binoculars, cushion and any snacks.

Jim Sharpsteen
Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis


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[mou-net] Prairie Falcon in Traverse Co.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith and I were looking at a Prairie Falcon at Metz WMA a few
minutes ago. Perched on a goose nest box east of the road about 75-100 yds
out. Just took off. May be in the area yet. (No luck with the Glossy Ibis
or Say’s Phoebe.)


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Re: [mou-net] House Wrens

[Gerald Hoekstra]

No shortage of House Wrens in my neighborhood in Northfield nor in any of
the other places I've been birding. In fact, I had been thinking that I've
been hearing *more* than usual.

Gerry Hoekstra

On Mon, Jun 11, 2018 at 1:38 PM, Michael Koutnik 
wrote:

> Yes. We’ve had a nest in our wren nest box in our backyard in Eagan for
> quite a few consecutive years (8-10?). While I’ve seen an occasional wren
> this year, and hear one calling, including this past weekend, we’ve seen no
> attempts to nest.
>
> Mike Koutnik
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Jun 11, 2018, at 1:09 PM, Jim Williams  wrote:
> >
> > Anyone noticing absence or reduced numbers of House Wrens this spring?
> >
> > Jim Williams
> > birding blog at startribune/Wingnut
> > Earth always bats last.
> >
> > 
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>
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[mou-net] A Rice County (sort of) Big Day

[Gerald Hoekstra]

On Saturday Jim Palmer and I undertook a spontaneous, casual, and—for a Big
Day—poorly executed Rice County Big Day. I describe that way because we
didn’t decide to try it until we started out that morning, we didn’t plan
our route or stops ahead of time, we didn’t start until 6:30 a.m., we took
sit-down breaks for lunch and supper, and we spent an hour and a half
trekking through Koester Prairie (one of my favorite spots) and two and a
half hours in Cannon River Wilderness—West Unit, neither of which warranted
that much time on a Big Day. Nevertheless, we logged 125 species, including
22 species of warbler, 13 species of waterfowl, and 8 species of sparrow
(probably 9, but in the wind we weren’t sure if we were hearing a
Grasshopper Sparrow or not). Misses that we should have gotten were Brown
Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, and any raptors other than
Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk. The Rice County Big Day record is 143, so
we were happy with our 125.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Cattle Egret - Dakota County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

140th St Marsh. Seen along the road and in flight


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[mou-net] Jan/Feb 2018 MOU newsletter now available

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The January/February 2018 issue of *Minnesota Birding* can be downloaded at:

http://moumn.org/newsletter/issues/2018-01.pdf

We’re working on a system that will send this notice to all MOU members,
regardless of whether they are signed up for this listserv or not. In the
meantime, if you know members who do not subscribe to MOU-NET, please
forward this information.

Gerry Hoekstra
Editor, *Minnesota Birding*


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Re: [mou-net] Dakota Yellow-rumps/Solitaire

[Gerald Hoekstra]

When I went there early this morning, I found *two* Townsend's Solitaires
hanging out at the spot, both hanging out in the cedars. Photo on MOU home
page.

Gerry

On Tue, Dec 12, 2017 at 12:23 PM, PeteandDeb Hoeger-Lerdal <
hoegerler...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Refound Rick Gibson’s T. Solitaire at Lake Byllesby Regional Park in
> Dakota Cty. from parking lot at corner of 300th St. and Gerlach Way (north
> side) frequently making its whistle call from treetops. Also at least 8
> Yellow-rumpled Warblers cavorting with juncos amidst the cedars and
> junipers.
> Pete Hoeger
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
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[mou-net] MOU Newsletter – Nov/Dec issue

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The November / December of Minnesota Birding has been posted:
http://moumn.org/newsletter/issues/2017-11.pdf


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[mou-net] Red Crossbills in Le Sueur County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Adding to the list of Red Crossbill sightings, Jim Palmer and I had two
along the east side of Greenleaf Lake (SW of Montgomery) this morning. They
were not feeding, but merely passing through. They alighted briefly atop a
deciduous tree and then took off again to the north. We were out of the car
looking at Rusty Blackbirds at the time and otherwise would probably have
missed them.

In addition to the Rusty Blackbirds in Le Sueur County mentioned above, we
also came across two large flocks, mixed in with other blackbird species,
in western Rice County.

Add to that a huge flock (over 500 birds) of Lapland Longspurs feeding in
the fields along 201st Ave just south of Gorman Lake (Le Sueur), with at
least one Snow Bunting and one Horned Lark in the mix; and a dark-morph
Rough-legged Hawk near Cody Lake (western Rice), and it was a good morning.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Plover location

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The SNPL is 1.25 mi E of county line, not 2.5 as reported earlier.


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[mou-net] Snowy Plover at No. Ottawa Impoundment

[Gerald Hoekstra]

On 250th St. About 2.5 mi east of the county line. On sandbars to the
north, with SEPLs and lots of other shorebirds. Being viewed by 8 birders.


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Re: [mou-net] Worm-eating Warbler in Le Sueur County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I had one in Carleton Arb yesterday too, next to Kettle Marsh. I saw it
only briefly when it popped up, and I wasn't able to get it to show again.
Small greenish/brownish-backed warbler with black and buff striped head. It
didn't sing. Since I wasn't able to get it to reappear, I didn't post it.

Gerry Hoekstra


On Mon, May 22, 2017 at 10:46 AM Williams, Bob 
wrote:

> I am seeing and hearing a Worm-eating Warbler in Sakatah State Park in Le
> Sueur County.
> Call for directions 512-991-0727.
> Bob Williams
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> This email may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient,
> please notify us immediately and delete this copy from your system. Nothing
> in this email creates a contract for a real estate transaction, and the
> sender does not have authority to bind a party to a contract via written or
> verbal communication.
>
> 
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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby shorebirds

[Gerald Hoekstra]

After a rather slow spring, Lake Byllesby is living up to its reputation as
a great shorebird spot today. This morning there were several hundred
shorebirds, including Stilts, Leasts, Pecs, Semipalmated, Baird's, and
White-rumped Sandpipers, plus Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated
Plovers, and Wilson's Phalaropes. Also present was a late pair of Greater
White-fronted Geese. The birds are on the mudflats across the lake, so a
scope is needed.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Painted Bunting, Rice County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

There is a male Painted Bunting visiting feeders at a home near Cannon
City. (I just posted a photo on MOU home page.)

I asked the homeowners, Dan and Sheila Bossmann, whether they would mind if
other birders came to look for it, and they said all were welcome.

The location is just south of Cannon City on CR 20 (Cannon City Blvd). Look
for fire sign 18800 on the west side of the road. They have a U-shaped
driveway, and the feeders are in back if the house. Pull into the driveway
and watch the feeders from your car in back. They ask just that you be
careful not to block any vehicles parked there.

Gene Bauer and I saw the bunting twice within a period of about 40" this
afternoon, along with a number of other birds, so it does visit the feeders
periodically.

Incidentally, a good shorebird spot has recently arisen with the
construction of a new holding pond just south of Northfield, so you might
want to check that out on your way back. It is at the junction of Gates Ave
and CR 22.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Tricolored Heron no longer there

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Gene Bauer and I looked for the Tricolored Heron at Slaughter Slough this
afternoon. It was no longer there. However, our efforts were rewarded with
a Red-necked Grebe at Robbins Slough (Shetek WMA) and a Northern
Mockingbird along CR 33 south of Slayton.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Both GBBG and LBBG

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Sorry not to have been specific. I meant Greater Black-backed. But a Lesser
Black-backed Gull is here at Old Cedar Ave Bridge too.


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[mou-net] Black-backed Gull present

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Here now at Old Cedar Bridge.


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[mou-net] Rice County shorebirds

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Late this afternoon I found a number of shorebirds in a sod farm field on
the southwest corner of 90th St. and Goodhue Ave east of Northfield. Where
the sod has been removed there is bare mud and a fair amount of standing
water. Species included Pectoral, Least, Semipalmated, and Baird's
Sandpipers; several Semipalmated Plovers; and lots of Killdeer.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Gull-billed Tern update?

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Can anyone provide an update on the Gull-billed Tern at Salt Lake, either
positive or negative? Did anyone look for it today?

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Tundra x Trumpeter?

[Gerald Hoekstra]

If you subscribe to Minnesota Birding FB site, you've already seen these
photos, but for those who do not follow FB, I thought I'd post them here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47388339@N06/22674960474/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47388339@N06/22676188093/in/datetaken/

I photographed this bird last Sunday at Brownsville Overlook. It seems to
have characteristics of both the Tundra and Trumpeter. It has the yellow
spot at the base of the bill and slightly concave upper surface of the bill
typical of the Tundra, but it has the V-shaped border at the top of the
bill characteristic of the Trumpeter rather than the U-shaped border
characteristic of the Tundra.

Adam Roesch pointed to a Sibley Guides article about Trumpeters with faint
yellow spots, but the bird pictured there looks quite different. It has a
small, dull yellow smudge rather than the distinct spot of the Brownsville
bird, and the upper surface of its beak runs in a straight line from the
head to the tip. The article suggests that hybrids exist but doesn't site a
source:
http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/07/trumpeter-swans-with-yellow-loral-spots/

So I'm wondering what people think of this bird. I have no reason not to
think it is a Tundra, other than the sharp V-line of the beak. It was among
all the migrating Tundras at the overlook. But I did not hear it vocalize,
and I did not see its legs.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby shorebird update

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I stopped at Lake Byllesby late this afternoon to see if any of the
shorebirds were still around. They were, though in smaller numbers. In the
twenty minutes I was there, I found one Black-bellied Plover, 28 Dunlins, 3
Pectoral Sandpipers, and 16 Killdeer.  In addition, there were  two
American Pipits and a Bonaparte's Gull (a second gull was out too far to
ID).The only waterfowl I saw this time were six Northern Shovelers and a
dozen or so Mallards. I did not see the Hudsonian Godwit that was there
last weekend.

Unfortunately, since I was short on time, I resisted the impulse to stop at
GW Industrial Park on the way home, and thus did not see the Snow Buntings
that Laura Coble reported.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Swift County Snowy Egret

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith and I found a Snowy Egret in Marsh Lake. On south side of 115th
St SW about .5 mi W of CR 119.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] SNEG location clarification

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I should have written on the road to Marsh Lake, not in Marsh Lake. The
specific  road info was correct, though.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Marbled Godwit in Renville County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Yesterday Kevin Smith and I found a Marbled Godwit at the Bird Island WTP.
When I posted a photo on the MOU web site, it registered as first record
for Renville County in the fall season. If I had realized that yesterday, I
would have posted a notice from my iPhone. My apologies.

We also found a number of other species of shorebirds there. We saw the
Upland Sandpipers and Buff-breasted Sandpipers that have been reported by
others at mowed alfalfa fields sw of CoRd 2  520th in Renville County, though
in smaller numbers, and the Blue Grosbeak at Krugman air strip. Other good
stops for shorebirds were New Auburn WTP in Sibley Co., Miedd Lake in
Yellow Medicine Co., and the cattle pond on CR 111 in Nicollet Co.

Good birding to all!

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Jirik BBSAs no longer there

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Two of us looking, but the Buff-breasted Sandpipers appear to have left the
sod farm. Only Killdeers and crows now.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Rice County Swainsons Hawk

[Gerald Hoekstra]

There is a Swainsons Hawk on the wire along CR 1 just west of Baldwin Ave.
It was here yesterday morning too, so it may stay around. I posted a photo
on the MOU page yesterday.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Mower County Upland Sandpiper and shorebirds

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Thanks to Peter Mattson for the excellent directions to the Upland
Sandpipers in Mower County. Jerry Pruett and I found one about 2/10 mile
east of that spot, first sitting in the grass along the south side of the
road and then circling overhead. It would land occasionally, often in the
same area, and then take off again. We did not see a second adult or the
two chicks.

We also stopped at Dexter WTP, where we found a number of early shorebirds,
including a Lesser Yellowlegs, several Spotted Sandpipers, several Solitary
Sandpipers, and at least one Semipalmated and one Least Sandpiper, along
with a number of Killdeer. At Grand Meadow WTP we added three Pectoral
Sandpipers to the list and found more Spotted, Solitary, and Least
Sandpipers, and again a single Lesser Yellowlegs.

Good birding to all!

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Rice County mockingbird not refound

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I'm in Koester Prairie right now, and it seems the mockingbird Gene Bauer
found is no longer around. Two other birders were here when I arrived and
they did not find it either.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Correction -- SNEG E of Warren

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Re the location of the SNEG -- I wrote E of Marshall. I meant E of *Warren*
(in Marshall Co.)

GH


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[mou-net] Snowy Egret in Marshall County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Jerry Pruett, Kevin Smith and I just found a Snowy Egret at the Marshall
Flood Control Impoudment just E of Marshall. It was out along the SE corner
with several Great Egrets.

Gerr Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Western Tanager at Whitetail Woods Regional Pk.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith just phoned to say that while doing a bird survey for Whitetail
Woods Regional Park in Dakota County he found a Western Tanager. It was
near the camper cabins.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Correction: Western Kingbird, not Tanager

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The bird that Kevin Smith found at Whitetail Woods Regional Pk this morning
was a W. Kingbird, not W. Tanager.

It flew while he was viewing it and it has not yet been refound.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Birding the Carleton Arb

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Prairie birds are returning to the Carleton Lower Arb (Northfield). Today I
had Eastern Kingbirds, Sedge Wrens, Eastern Meadowlarks, Common
Yellowthroats, and lots of Clay-colored, Song, and Field Sparrows. I
haven't seen the resident Henslow's Sparrows yet, but strong winds today
made it hard to hear, and not many birds were perching up. Nor did I see
the Red-headed Woodpeckers that nested along the edge of the prairie last
year. In fact, the dead tree that they nested in has mostly fallen to the
ground.

Yesterday morning I birded the Upper Arb. Notable birds were a dozen
Swainson's Thrushes, a Yellow-throated Vireo, and several Blue-headed
Vireos. The only warblers I was able to find were Black-and-White, Yellow,
Palm, and Yellow-rumped. Two Barred Owls have returned and are probably
nesting in the area.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Albany Cinnamon Teal (or hybrid)

[Gerald Hoekstra]

When I posted the notice of the Cinnamon Teal at Albany, I hadn't realized
that Bob Dunlap et al. had posted one (or a hybrid) at Albany WTP earlier.
I had been busy before we left and hadn't been reading emails carefully.
Since it was probably the same bird he had written about, I should have
written refound rather than found. We were on our way up north and had
planned to stop at Albany anyway.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Cinnamon Teal at Albany WTP

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith and I just found a Cinnamon Teal among the Blue-winged Teals at
Albany WTP. No signs of being a hybrid. It flew off to one of the back
ponds not visible from the road while we were watching it. Did not see the
Hudsonian Godwit reported earlier.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I found lots of waterfowl again today at Lake Byllesby, though not as many
as yesterday. A large flock of Greater White-fronted Geese is still hanging
out on the mudflats across the lake from the cemetery, and a small flock of
Tundra Swans flew in while I was there.

Some shorebirds are starting to come in. Scoping the mudflats from the west
end, I found five Pectoral Sandpipers and three Greater Yellowlegs on the
mudflats, along with more than a dozen Killdeer.

And as I was driving up Hwy 56 a Swainson's Hawk flew overhead.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Blue Earth County Varied Thrush

[Gerald Hoekstra]

This morning Gene Bauer and I drove down to Mankato to see the Varied
Thrush that was originally posted on MOU-net by Chad Heins. It has been
appearing continuously since the 10th. I just posted a photo on the MOU
page. Although the light was poor at the time, we had good views.

The homeowners are very welcoming. Although we arrived very early in the
morning, they immediately came outside to greet us and invited us in. The
area with the feeders can be seen from the street, but the best views are
through their back windows. They said I should encourage birders to knock
on the door.

The bird usually visits in the mornings, almost never in the afternoons,
and only for brief periods of time. It is usually seen in the trees or
feeding on the ground. Its feeding times are unpredictable. We were
fortunate in having it appear after about 20, but I know others have
waited several hours.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Make that 2 Rice County Snowies

[Gerald Hoekstra]

i just discovered a second Snowy Owl in the same vicinity. This one is also
in the field about 200 yards east of Kane Ave, but about 1/4 mile north of
190th. Because of the contour of the land it can only be seen from the
northwest. The other one is still south of 190th.

Gerry


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[mou-net] Rice County Snowy Owl

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I'm reporting this for Dave Bartkey, who found a Snowy Owl near 190th St.
and Kane Ave. I went back at noon and was able to find it about 1/4 mile
south of 190th on the east side of Kane Ave 150-200 yards out in the field.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Snowy Owl in Rice Co.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

On CR 17 just south of 260th St.  Thanks to Kathy Thoms and Gene Bauer for
calling my attention to it. It was found by Kathy's son this morning and
was still there late afternoon. Gene saw it catch a vole in the ditch and
take it out into the field to eat.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Birding up north Wednesday—Thursday

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith and I got back from two days of birding up north last night.
For those who may not have seen it yet, the Golden-crowned Sparrow at 44th
Ave. and Regent St. in Duluth is still present, at least as of Wednesday
morning. The homeowner was very welcoming, and even came out on the porch
to point out that the bird had shown up, in case we weren't seeing it.

Unfortunately, the Harlequin Duck and Pacific Loon that have been reported
recently between 21st and 26th were nowhere to be seen. Neither was the
Common Eider that had been there for the past month. (Fortunately, we had
both seen that on previous trips.) We found only a single female Common
Merganser. We did get a distant view through scopes of the Great
Black-backed Gull, which was standing on ice flows out in the lake with
Herring Gulls, but the birds were too far out to allow identification of
any other unusual gulls among them.

Wednesday afternoon we went to Sax Zim Bog and found four Great Grays, as
well as many of the other usual Bog birds—Gray Jays, Pine Grosbeaks,
Red-breasted Nutcrackers, a single Black-billed Magpie, a Pine Siskin,
Common Redpolls, etc., but, alas, no Hoary Redpolls. We made a run out to
the CR 444 feeders hoping for Evening Grosbeaks, but they did not show up
while we were there, and in truth we did not wait very long. We were
surprised, though, to find a Mourning Dove hanging out there yet.

Yesterday we started out early for Spruce Grouse in Lake County, where we
encountered and teamed up with Kim RIsen and another birder. Not only did
we find Spruce Grouse (3 or 4), but also remnants of a male Spruce Grouse
that had fallen prey to a wolf or some other predator. We came upon small
flocks of Red Crossbills, Common Redpolls, and Pine Grosbeaks in a number
of places, and at one point while we were viewing grosbeaks and redpolls, a
Merlin streaked overhead.

On the way back we checked the Two Harbors port area and found two female
Red-breasted Mergansers. We also made stops again along the lakefront
hoping for the Harlequin Duck or Pacific Loon, but again no luck.

Good birding to all!

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Duluth Common Eiders still present

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Stlll by the condos east of 21st Ave.

Gerry Hoekstra
Kevin Smith


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[mou-net] Warning for Minneapolis lakes birders

[Gerald Hoekstra]

This morning about 10:30 a.m. while I and a few other birders were looking
for the Black Scoter on Lake Harriet, someone bashed in the passenger
window of my car and stole a backpack off the front seat. The car was
parked on Lake Harriet Parkway in an open area, and we were standing only
about 75 yards away and across the street at the time.

The Minneapolis park police told me that the guys who do this are very
sophisticated. They do it quickly and quietly and usually have a spotter
working with them.

Fortunately, the only thing of value they got was a new pair of
prescription eye glasses—expensive, but easily replaced.

And, yes, I did get the Black Scoter. But it was one expensive bird!

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Red Phalarope in Mower County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith and I found a Red Phalarope at the Brownsdale WTP yesterday
afternoon. I would have posted this earlier, but I thought it was a
Red-necked Phalarope until I looked at my photos today and noticed the
thicker bill. I sent the photos to Kim Eckert for confirmation, and he
pointed out in addition the lack of back streaking.

There was also a single Snow Goose in a large flock of Canada Geese, but
the geese all took flight and left the pond while we were there.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Shorebirds in Grant and Stevens Counties this weekend

[Gerald Hoekstra]

On Saturday and Sunday my brother Marv, Kevin Smith, and I birded our way
down the western side of the state from the North Ottawa impoundment in
Grant County to Blue Mound State Park.  The best shorebird spot, as
expected, was the North Ottawa impoundment, where we had:

125 Great Egret
2 American Avocet
3 Black-belied Plover
6 Semipalmated Plover
35 Killdeer
12 Spotted Sandpiper
23 Greater Yellowlegs
48 Lesser Yellowlegs
14 Stilt Sandpipers
3 Baird's Sandpipers
30 Least Sandpipers
25 Pectoral Sandpipers
20 Semipalmated Sandpipers
100 peep species
8 Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitchers
2 Wilson's Snipes

...plus a variety of waterfowl and other birds. The larger numbers here are
on the conservative side. We saw the small group of dowitchers when we
first drove up at the south end and scanned the area. Unfortunately, by the
time we turned our scopes back to look at them more closely, they had left.

The best find of the trip was a fallow field in Stevens County just south
of Chokio, which had been flooded earlier and was now mostly mud and grass.
When we stopped to scan it, we found 46 Buff-breasted Sandpipers (thanks to
Kevin for doing the count!), 17 American Golden Plovers, and one
Black-bellied Plover. The location was the SE corner of 270th St. and 620th
Ave.

Other good birds on the trip were Red-necked Phalaropes (several
locations), Semipalmated  Plovers (Rock Co.), Eared Grebes (Hancock WTP and
Salt Lake), Red-necked Grebe (Salt Lake), Blue Grosbeaks (Blue Mounds SP),
Forster's Tern (N. Ottawa Impoundment), Loggerhead Shrike (Yellow Medicine
Co.), Peregrine Falcon (Big Stone NWR), Upland Sandpiper (Big Stone NWR),
and Eurasian Collared-Dove (Chokio).  We found large flocks of Franklin's
Gulls all over; we estimated more than 2000 at the Osakis WTP alone.

Since we were already in Rock County visiting Blue Mounds SP, we decided to
check the spot where the Least Terns had been seen last week, even though
Roy Z. had reported that they were no longer there. No Least Terns, only
two Black Terns. However, we did find numerous shorebirds foraging
there—mostly Lesser Yellowlegs;  Least, Semipalmated, and Pectoral
Sandpipers; a few Baird's Sandpipers; one Stilt Sandpiper; and Semipalmated
Plovers.

Great weekend! Good birding to all.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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Re: [mou-net] Woodstork update.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Brad Abendroth and I headed down to Blue Earth after returning from the MBW
in Aitkin County this afternoon, and after a little searching and a
fortunate encounter with Wayne Feder, we were able to observe the bird
around 7:30 in its original location. The bird appeared bedraggled and
seemed to have been injured. Wayne observed that its beak and its face
looked scratched (maybe from the encounter with the dog?).  Although it may
be exciting for us to see this bird in Minnesota, it's probably tragic for
the bird to be here. It's unlikely that it could ever make it back south
where it belongs.

Gerry Hoekstra


On Sun, Jun 22, 2014 at 7:09 PM, Frank Gosiak fgos...@gmail.com wrote:

 I did make it to the Blue Earth area and found the Woodstork. It was
 eating near the old white
 roped horse fence under the trees. It didn't seem to mind me being there
 and just went about
 business. This was at 3:30 today.

 
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[mou-net] Yellow-throated Warbler still present in Mantorville (Dodge Co.)

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The Yellow-throated Warbler reported by Roy Zimmerman on May 30 was still
present today. Kevin Smith and I found it on the east side of St. Margaret
Cemetery, the same location where Roy found it last weekend. It moved
between trees and sang constantly while we were there.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Whimbrel in Rice Co.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Along CR 72 east side, south of CR 12 in a low wet spot in a field, just
north of 220th St. I'm Dave Bartkey and Gene Bauer.

Gerry Hoekstra


-- 
Gerald R. Hoekstra
Music Department
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN 55057
Office phone: 507-786-3181


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[mou-net] White-faced Ibises refound, other shorebirds

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Late yesterday afternoon Dave Bartkey and I refound the four White-faced
Ibises previously reported at Black Rush Lake WMA in Lyon County. Earlier,
at Miller Lake in Yellow Medicine County we found 8 Hudsonian Godwits, 3
Marbled Godwits, an American Avocet, 2 Willets, Dunlins, and other
shorebirds.

Salt Lake had fewer birds than I've see there in the past, but we did find
one Eared Grebe, a few Horned Grebes, small numbers of most other varieties
of waterfowl. Along the shore we found Pectoral, Least, Baird's, and
Semipalmated Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs,
a Willet, and an American Pipit. A lone Greater White-fronted Goose is
hanging around yet, and while we were there a flock of about 25 Snow Geese
flew over.

Elsewhere we came across Lark Sparrows, Franklin's and Bonaparte's Gulls,
and Broad-winged Hawks, and we found thriving populations of Yellow-headed
Blackbirds in just about every marsh we visited.

In spite of the wind, it was a great day of birding!

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Garganey present

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Looking at the Crex Meadows Garganey now. In the channel east side of F
just S of Abel.

Gerry Hoekstra





-- 
Gerald R. Hoekstra
Music Department
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN 55057
Office phone: 507-786-3181


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[mou-net] Wells Lake waterfowl today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Wells Lake (Rice Co.) is starting to open up at the causeway bridge. This
afternoon Gene Bauer and I were down there and found Common Goldeneyes,
Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked
Ducks, Mallards, Canada Geese, an American Coot, an American Wigeon, and a
Canvasback. Also 3 Ring-billed Gulls, and 29 Great Blue Herons on the
western shore.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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Re: [mou-net] Steele County shorebirds

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Golden Plovers, Buff-breasted SPs, and other birds still here this morning.

Gerry

On Saturday, September 7, 2013, Steven Chesney wrote:

 They were there yesterday PM
 Sent via BlackBerry by ATT

 -Original Message-
 From: Taff Roberts trobe...@hbci.com javascript:;
 Sender: Minnesota Birds MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU javascript:;
 Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 22:54:58
 To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU javascript:;
 Reply-To: Taff Roberts trobe...@hbci.com javascript:;
 Subject: Re: [mou-net] Steele County shorebirds

 Did anyone view the Golden Plovers at Rice Lake State Park  today?
 Wondering if they are still hanging around?
 Taff Roberts
 On Sep 4, 2013, at 2:22 PM, Bob Ekblad wrote:

  Following up on a database report by Herb Dingmann of Golden Plovers at
 a spot north of Rice Lake State Park I was able to find the plovers (I
 counted at least 400 of them!!!). I also refound some Sanderlings that
 Diane Anderson had found earlier today. I also found 4 Red-necked
 Phalaropes as well.
 
  To get to the spot go east from the park entrance and go north on CR37
 for 2.6 mi and then turn right (N) on 84th Ave and go 1 mile to the two
 bare fields on your left.  The plovers are in the fields (difficult to find
 if they are away from the water puddles).   The phalaropes were in the
 ponds on the opposite side of the road and Sanderlings were on both sides.
 
  Sent from Bob Ekblad's iPhone
  507-269-7436
  Byron, MN - Olmsted County
  http://www.Birding-Minnesota.com
  
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-- 
Gerald R. Hoekstra
Music Department
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN 55057
Office phone: 507-786-3181


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[mou-net] My most surprising bird of the year — discovered a year later!

[Gerald Hoekstra]

A few weeks ago Al Schirmacher posed the question What is our most
surprising bird of the year? on this list, and a number of people
responded.  Belatedly, here's mine.  Belatedly, because although I actually
saw the bird a year ago, I didn't have the surprise until yesterday.

Last night I was looking through some photos that I took at Salt Lake
during Doug Buri's Shorebird Workshop last August, and I came across a set
of Black Terns in flight.  I had been trying to capture some good flight
photos as the birds hawked over the water.  Most looked like birds in basic
plumage or juvenile Black Terns, and that was how I had recorded them on my
eBird list.  But when I looked more closely at the photos, I realized one
was different.  It was a juvenile White-winged Tern!  A lifer, but not
discovered until a year after I had seen it.

Here's a link to two photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47388339@N06/9429241463/in/set-72157634919739372/


I assume they are of a single bird.  The photos were taken on the west side
of Salt Lake (unfortunately, So. Dakota!) on Aug. 3, 2012.  (Thanks to
Oscar Johnson of BirdsEye Birding for confirming the ID.)

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Shorebirds in southern Scott Co.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

There's a flooded farm field on the north side of New Prague Blvd. (280th
St.) just E of Texas Ave. that had over 150 shorebirds in it this
afternoon.  Unfortunately, there isn't a good place to park, though you can
stop along the road and view the spot with a scope.  From what I could see
with my scope it looked like most were Pectoral Sandpipers, Greater and
Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, and Least Sandpipers, though many were out too
far to ID accurately.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] County ID for Virginia Rail photo

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Yesterday I posted a photo of a Virginia Rail on MOU Showcase and
noticed immediately that the county ID had defaulted to my home
county, Rice.  It should be Cottonwood County, where Wolf Lake WPA is
located, not Rice.  I have been trying to get it corrected but have
been unsuccessful, and as far as I know I cannot correct it myself.
My apologies to those who had hoped to find this bird in Rice Co.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Western Grebe Rice County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith and I are looking at a Western Grebe on Crystal Lake in Cannon City.

Gerry Hoekstra

Sent from my iPhone


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[mou-net] Lawrence's Warbler in Rice Co. Wilderness Area

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith and I found a Lawrence's backcross Warbler this afternoon
in the Rice County Wilderness Area, east side (i.e., entrance off CR
20).  It was on the south side of the ravine and nearly to the end of
the path, where the woods opens up onto an oak savanna.  There were
Blue-winged Warblers in the area as well.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Shorebirds at Lake Byllesby tonight

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The shorebirds are finally coming in to Lake Byllesby in greater numbers.
 Laura Coble reported that earlier today there were at least 120-140
shorebirds, 4 Wilson's Phalaropes, 2 dowitcher sp. plus over 200 hundred
 ducks.

I was there this evening, and the numbers had increased significantly.  I
counted at least 200 Lesser Yellowlegs alone, plus a dozen Greater
Yellowlegs, 11 Long-billed Dowitchers, 5 Wilson's Phalaropes, 5
Semipalmated Sandpipers, a few Pectoral Sandpipers, a Dunlin, and 30
peeps, and those were only the birds within range of my scope.  They are
conservative numbers.  I could see that there were a lot more birds on
sandbars further out, beyond the range of my scope.  Unfortunately, even with
30-power scope and the sun at my back, I wasn't able to ID the peeps, which
were quite far out.

As Laura reported, there are also a lot of ducks. Tonight there were over
200 Blue-winged Teals alone, plus Gadwalls, Green-winged Teals, and
Northern Shovelers.  Also small numbers of Franklin's and Bonaparte's
Gulls, Forster's Terns, and about 50 American White Pelicans.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lakewood Cemetery Orange-crowned Warbler, Byllesby birds

[Gerald Hoekstra]

At Lakewood Cemetery (on Lake Byllesby) late this morning I found an
Orange-crowned Warbler amid a bunch of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

I also had brief glimpses of the Willet and American Avocet that others
have reported.  They were on the sandbars across the lake; both were
elusive, and it was only luck and patience that gave me these looks.

Afterward I stopped at the County Park on the west end and at the boat ramp
on the south side as well.  I found Horned Grebes and Wilson’s Phalaropes
in all three locations, five of the latter on the south side.  No luck with
Eared Grebe though.  Three Ospreys were soaring over the west end of the
lake and 200+ American White Pelicans sat out on the sandbars, along with
Bonaparte’s, Franklin’s, and Ring-billed Gulls (I saw only one Herring
Gull).  The lake still hosts a lot of ducks of various species, but
Green-winged Teals and Northern Shovelers are most numerous.

The Cinnamon x Blue-winged Teal hybrid that I reported a couple of weeks
ago SW of Sciota Trail and MN 56 was not there this morning, but others saw
him over the weekend, so it’s worth checking.

Gerry Hoekstra

Northfield


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[mou-net] Short-eared Owl in Randolph refound today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The Short-eared Owl reported by Julian Sellers yesterday was seen again
early this afternoon by the MOU group led by Kevin Smith.  We were a small
group of four hardy birders who had started out at Miesville Ravine at 8:00
and then birded Lake Byllesby before heading to the Great Western
Industrial Park.

While we were scanning the north pond the owl suddenly flew up from the
grass right in front of us.  It headed across the pond and landed in the
open field where we were able to get good looks with our scopes.  (I'll
post a photo on the MOU Showcase later.)  Kevin went to notify other
birders in the area, but by the time they arrived the bird had relocated to
a clump of long grass on the NE corner.  Nevertheless, it was still fairly
visible through the scopes.

Other birds found in the industrial park (besides waterfowl in the
pond) were a Swainson's Hawk, two Rough-legged Hawks (one dark phase),
several flocks of Lapland Longspurs, Horned Larks, Eastern Meadowlarks,
American Tree Sparrows, and a Savannah Sparrow.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Wells Lake, Sakatah Lake, and Rice Co.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I was able to spend several hours birding southwest of Northfield late this
morning and early afternoon.  I started at a regular stop, Wells Lake (Rice
County), which continues to host a good variety of waterfowl.  In addition
to 3 Common Loons, I found Gadwalls, Mallards, Northern Shovelers,
Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups (largest number), Buffleheads, Hooded and
Common Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, Double-crested
Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, and tons of American Coots.  No Greater
White-fronted Geese, though.  Where are the huge flocks we saw last year?!

Then I headed down to Sakatah Lake.  Dark-eyed Juncos lined the edges of
the roads everywhere, foraging in the bit of grass and gravel that was
exposed from snow cover.  In a flooded ditch along MN 60 I noticed a number
of robins splashing around, so I stopped to see if there might be anything
else.  A little scanning with the binoculars turned up two Rusty
Blackbirds, a Wilson’s Snipe, and 6 Hermit Thrushes along the edge of the
water, and an Eastern Phoebe in the trees.

At Sakatah Lake (from the Hwy 13 causeway at Waterville, Le Sueur County) I
found many of the same waterfowl species as at Wells, plus some Redheads
and 15 American White Pelicans.  The waterfowl in largest numbers were
Lesser Scaups, Canvasbacks, and American Coots.  I also saw my FOY Osprey,
which plunged into the lake and came up with a small fish.  I was surprised
to see a Ring-billed Gull briefly give chace.

On the way back to Northfield, I decided to turn off I-35 at the CR1 exit.
After stopping to look at some sparrows (American Tree Sparrows and a
Vesper Sparrow) mixed in with a flock of Dark-eyed Juncos, I noticed a
flock of birds in the air about 100 yards ahead.  When I drove up along the
shoulder I found about 150 Lapland Longspurs in beautiful breeding plumage
foraging in the cornfield near the road.  About 30 Horned Larks soon joined
them.  Every time a car or truck drove past, the flock would rise in the
air, flutter around like a snow squall, and settle down again as they
always do, and eventually I noticed that a flock of about 50 Snow Buntings
had come in as well.  What a treat, to see both Lapland Longspurs and Snow
Buntings in breeding plumage!

There are lots of birds to see out there.  You just have to get out!

Good birding to all.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Wells Lake and Rice County birding

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Wells Lake (Faribault) is continuing to open up. Gene Bauer and I checked
it out mid-afternoon today and found a good variety of waterfowl, though
none in huge numbers.  Most abundant were Common Mergansers, Canvasbacks,
and Ring-necks but there were also other species, most notably three
Red-breasted Mergansers.  Notably absent were Greater White-fronted Geese.
 Here’s a list of species:

Canada Geese
American Wigeon
Mallard
Canvasback (60+)
Ring-necked Duck (40+)
Redhead
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser (120+)
Red-breasted Merganser (3)
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant (35)
Great Blue Heron (3, though I counted over 30 last Sunday in the rookery)
Ring-billed Gull (70+)
Herring Gull (1)

At Alexander Park in Faribault we found some Greater Scaup as well, and
driving around the roads of Rice County south of Northfield we came upon
several flooded fields that hosted waterfowl.  One on CR8 just E of I35 had
large numbers of Canvasbacks, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, and
Mallards.  Others held Tundra Swans, Hooded Mergansers, and Wood Ducks.

In Big Woods SP and the road to it we came across Eastern Bluebirds and
Song Sparrows, as well as the usual Horned Larks, Dark-eyed Juncos,
American Kestrels, etc.

Good Birding to all!

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Washington Co. Lapland Longspurs not found today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Kevin Smith and I made four passes up and down Neal Ave this morning but
failed to find the Lapland Longspurs that others have reported there the
last few days.  We didn't come across the Common Redpolls or Snow Buntings
either in that location, though we did scare up a flock of about 60
redpolls not too far from there.

The most productive spot this morning was the Hampton Marsh, which hosts a
large number of ducks and geese, though no Greater White-fronted.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Gray Partridges Dodge Co.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Gene Bauer and I went to look for the Dodge Co. Snowy Owls this
morning, but despite the aid of Ken Vail's maps and numerous slow
passes, we were not able to locate either bird.  However, we did come
across a flock of a dozen Gray Partridges in the stubble field just
south of 690th St. and east of 120th Ave.  Seems like there's always
something to make a morning's birding efforts worthwhile.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Mourning Doves

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I've noticed several posts recently about Mourning Doves.  Are they rare
this time of year?  I have found them on several outings recently and had a
dozen on my roof in Northfield just a few days ago.

Gerry Hoekstra

-- 
Gerald R. Hoekstra
Music Department
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN 55057
Office phone: 507-786-3181


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[mou-net] Carleton Arb sparrows, etc.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

In the Carleton Arb prairie yesterday morning:

Le Conte's Sparrow - at least 3
Harris's Sparrow - at least 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - many
White-throated Sparrows - many
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

And near the Kettle Marsh a flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers, several
Dark-eyed Juncos, an Orange-crowned Warbler, a Western Meadowlark, Eastern
Bluebirds, Downy Woodpeckers, and Northern Flickers.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Dakota sod farms, Randolph Ind. Pk., and Hwy 56 spot

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I was unsuccessful this afternoon in locating the Buff-breasted
Sandpipers previously reported at the Jirik sod farms, but in the
ditch on the E side of Blaine Ave. I did find at least three Soras, a
Solitary Sandpiper, and a Stilt Sandpiper.  Also, on my way down to
check out the Hwy 56 flooded field in Goodhue Co., I stopped in
Randolph Ind. Pk., where I found several Lesser Yellowlegs in the SE
pond, along with some ducks and geese.  And while I was there, a
Loggerhead Shrike landed on the stop sign.  The Hwy 56 spot still
hosts a large number of shorebirds -- primarily Stilt, Pectoral,
Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs.
 No phalaropes this afternoon.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Red-necked Phalaropes in Dakota Co.

[Gerald Hoekstra]

In addition to the shorebirds that I reported yesterday in the flooded
field on MN 56 just S of 19, this morning there were three Red-necked
Phalaropes.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Shorebirds (and others) Dakota and Goodhue Co. this morning

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Two good shorebird spots near Northfield.  Shorebird counts are not to
be taken too literally, since birds were flying in and out and moving
around while I was at both places.

Alta Ave / 302nd St. (Dakota Co.) flooded field early this morning:
Wood Duck 62
Mallard 12
Killdeer 55
Greater Yellowlegs 4
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Least Sandpiper  52
Semipalmated Sandpiper 3
Pectoral Sandpiper 6
Stilt Sandpiper  8
Great Blue Heron 1

Flooded field on 56 S of 19 (Goodhue Co.) early this morning:
Wood Duck 18
Mallard 25
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 45
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Lesser Yellowlegs 25
Least Sandpiper  65
Semipalmated Sandpiper 5
Pectoral Sandpiper 15
Stilt Sandpiper  15
Wilson's Phalarope 3

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Shorebirds (Goodhue) and Sandhill Cranes (Dakota)

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The flooded field on MN56 a half-mile S of MN19 (Goodhue Co.) had quite a
few shorebirds again today:  Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers, Least
Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Baird's Sandpipers, Killdeer.   Also
Wood Ducks and Blue-winged Teals.

The flooded field on Alta Ave just S. of 302nd St. (Dakota Co.) didn't have
many shorebirds, but it did have 17 Sandhill Cranes and 7 Great Blue
Herons, along with about 60 ducks of various species.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Dakota county shorebirds

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The flooded field on the Alta Ave just S of 302nd St. has been
attracting some shorebirds.  Nothing unusual at this time, but late
yesterday I found:

Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 4
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Killdeer 40
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Several other peeps out too far to ID

There were also two Wood Ducks and an immature Yellow-headed Blackbird.

The flooded area is on both sides of Alta Ave., but the birds are on
the W side, so morning light is best.  You'll need a scope.  It's a
gravel road but be aware that big gravel trucks from the nearby quarry
go through.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Birding Cannon Valley Bike Trail

[Gerald Hoekstra]

If you ever bike the Cannon Valley Trail and think, This would be a great
place for birding, now is the time to do it.  The trail from Welch to Red
Wing is closed to bicyclists and skaters because of storm damage, but you
can walk on it.  And you don't have to worry about bikes whizzing past or
getting in their way.  I was there for several hours yesterday and found
Yellow Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a Pileated
Woodpecker, and at least six Scarlet Tanagers, along with the usual
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Gray Catbirds, Eastern Wood Peewees, American
Goldfinches, at least 100 Redstarts, etc.

Drive into Welch from the north.  You can cross the bridge, which is open
to local traffic.  Drive on to the trail entrance east of the ski slopes.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby yesterday

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Lake Byllesby late afternoon yesterday (the cemetery was the better
location):

Hudsonian Godwits (at least 4)
Marbled Godwit (1)
Long-billed Dowitchers (at least 3)
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs
Pectoral Sandpipers
Least Sandpipers
Wilson's Phalaropes
Caspian Terns (5)
Forster's Terns (13)
Bonaparte's Gulls (at least 3)
Franklin's Gull (at least 2)
Ring-billed Gulls
White Pelicans
plus the usual waterfowl: No. Shovelers, Blue-winged Teals, Green-winged
Teals, Mallards

Also No. Harrier, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated
Sparrow

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Most of the birds I listed yesterday were still there today, except for the
Hudsonian Godwits.

At the west end:
Greater  Lesser Yellowlegs
Dowitchers (I think Long-billed)
Pectoral Sandpipers
Semipalmated Sandpiper (thanks to Scott M. for ID)
Least Sandpipers
Dunlins (a few)
Semipalmated Plovers (forgot to mention them yesterday)
Wilson's Phalaropes
Also the usual Am. Coots, No. Shovelers, Blue-winged  Green-winged Teals,
Lesser Scaups, Mallards

From the Lakeside Cemetery:
- flock of about 40 terns on a mud flat (I assume Forster's)
- one Caspian Tern


Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Shorebirds at Byllesby today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

There are hundreds of shorebirds on the mudflats and shallows of Lake
Byllesby today.  I was there late afternoon and found:

Lesser Yellowlegs (several hundred)
Greater Yellowlegs (many)
Pectoral Sandpipers (many)
Least Sandpipers (many)
Short-billed Dowitchers (at least 3)
Hudsonian Godwit (at least 2)
Dunlins (only noticed one with black on belly)
Willet (at least 2)

Someone with better shorebird ID skills would probably have found species
as well.  It was hard to get any kind of count, because they were
constantly taking off, swirling around, and landing again.

Also:
Forster's Terns (4)
No. Shovelers
Blue-winged Teals
Green-winged Teals
Red-winged Blackbirds

I birded the west end late afternoon.  There was so much to see there that
I never got down to the cemetery area.  If you go today, be ready for wind,
which is whipping across the lake from the south.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby today -- Hudsonian Godwits

[Gerald Hoekstra]

There were about a dozen Hudsonian Godwits at Lake Byllesby this
afternoon.  Also lots of Pectoral Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs,
Blue-winged Teals, Green-winged Teals, a few Northern Shovelers, and a
Great Horned Owl.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

At Lake Byllesby late afternoon today I found an American Pipit on a sand
bar near the shore at Lakeside Cemetery.  Also there was a flock of about
100 White Pelicans out on the lake, lots of Pectoral Sandpipers, Tree
Swallows, a Great Egret, two Turkey Vultures, two flyover flocks of
Double-crested Cormorants, several Bald Eagles, and several types of
waterfowl.  In the cemetery itself Yellow-rumped Warblers again.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Randolph Ind. Pk. and Lake Byllesby birds

[Gerald Hoekstra]

I'm one of those who posts on eBird but not usually on mou-net unless I see
something unusual.  But for those who are interested, here are the birds I
found at Randolph Industrial Park and Lake Byllesby today and yesterday,
late afternoons both days:

*Today:*
*Randolph Ind. Pk: * Kestrel (it's been there regularly around the pond at
the entrance), Western Meadowlark, Northern Shovelers, Lesser Scaups,
Red-winged Blackbirds, Canada Geese, Am. Coots
*Lake Byllesby, Lakeside Cemetery:*  White Pelicans (6b viewed across the
lake), Snow Geese (10, also viewed across the lake), No. Shovelers,
Blue-winged Teals, Pectoral Sandpipers (20+), Yellow-rumped Warblers (flock
of 30+), Ring-billed Gulls, Killdeer, Bald Eagle, Am. Coots, plus the
usual Canada Geese, Mallards, Robins, No. Flicker, Cardinal, Mourning
Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos

*Yesterday:*
*Randolph Ind. Pk:*  Most of the same, plus two Wilson's Snipes in the pond
at the entrance, and Horned Lark.
*Lake Byllesby: * Snow Geese (6+, across the lake, in the grass, harder to
see than today), White Pelicans, American Wigeons, Greater Yellowlegs, and
most of  the others listed above

*Monday:*
*Lake Byllesby: *Greater Yellowlegs (5, not seen yesterday or today), Fox
Sparrow, Song Sparrow, plus most of the others above (also dozens of Blue
Darner Dragonflies)

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby swans and ducks

[Gerald Hoekstra]

In addition to the Pectoral Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs reported
earlier today (viewable from the Cemetery on the north side), there are
still large numbers of waterfowl on the lake, though not in the numbers of
last week of the weekend:  a flock of Tundra Swans (yes, Tundras, not
Trumpeters), Canvasbacks, Redheads, Lesser Scaups, Ring-necked Ducks,
Gadwalls, American Wigeons, and Mallards.  The swans and other waterfowl
can be viewed from the boat lauch on the south shore.

Gerry Hoekstra

Northfield


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[mou-net] Photos of the Varied Thrush, Dakota County

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Photos of the Varied Thrush in Dakota County taken this morning.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47388339@N06/sets/72157628931723999/

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire photos

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Here are the photos I said I would post of the Townsend's Solitaire. They
were taken yesterday afternoon at Carpenter Nature Center:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47388339@N06/sets/72157628376805269/

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield, MN


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[mou-net] Townsend's Solitaire at CNC today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Had good looks at the Townsend's Solitaire between 2:15 and 2:45.  Also got
some good photos.  I'll post them on Flickr and send a note when I do.  It
was in the cedars along the trail where others have reported it previously.

Interestingly, I could hear the faint warbling of what sounded like the
Townsend's Solitaire song in the distance even while I was watching the
bird up close (and it was clearly not singing).  I'm wondering if there
might be more than one in the area.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Summer Tanager at CNC this morning

[Gerald Hoekstra]

The Summer Tanager was seen at the Carpenter Nature Center again this
morning between 11:15-11:35 or so, then gone.  She was feeding on the
berries on the vines on the side of the Bat building.

Also seen there this morning:
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Fox Sparrow

And the usual Blue Jays, Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed
Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, Goldfinches, House Finches, and a
Red-tailed Hawk.

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby late Saturday

[Gerald Hoekstra]

*Lake Byllesby, Saturday late afternoon*:

Yellow-rumped Warblers

Palm Warblers

Black  White Warbler

Forster’s Terns (lots)

Franklin’s Gulls

Bonaparte’s Gulls

Ring-billed Gulls

Lesser Yellowlegs (12)

Greater Yellowlegs (2)

Long-billed Dowitchers (3)

Snow Geese

Canada Geese

Blue-winged Teals

Northern Shovelers

White Pelicans

Great Blue Heron


 *Back yard today:*  White-crowned Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows

Last year at this time Byllesby was loaded with shorebirds. Maybe they're
just a little later this year. It was good to see the Dowitchers.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Leucistic Robin

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Yesterday morning I found this remarkable leucistic Robin on the east side
of Northfield.  It was no longer around later in the day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61713866@N02/

Gerry Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesby today

[Gerald Hoekstra]

*Lots of waterfowl at Lake Byllesby again this afternoon***

*
*

Gadwall 20+

Ring-necked Duck – 50+

Lesser Scaup – 100+

Greater Scaup – 50+

Bufflehead – 2

Northern Shoveler 10+

Mallards 10+

Canada Geese – 100+

Common Goldeneye – 10+

Blue-Winged Teal 15+

Common Merganser – 3

Canvasbacks – 20+

American Wigeon – 1

Bald Eagles (juv) – 2

Also Rock Doves, Crows, Robin, Chickadees



Gravel road W of 56, N of 19:

Harriers (2), Kestrel, Horned Lark

Gerald Hoekstra
Northfield


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesbye tonight

[Gerald Hoekstra]

Lake Byllesby this evening 7-7:30 -- 12 Black-bellied Plovers.   You need a
good scope; they're on the mudflats across the lake.

Didn't see the Ruddy Turnstones or Dunlins reported earlier.  Other than the
plovers, only Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, and about a dozen
immature Bald Eagles.

Gerry Hoekstra


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[mou-net] Lake Byllesbye tonight

[Gerald Hoekstra]

12 Black-bellied Plovers at Lake Byllesby this evening 7-7:30.

Didn't see the Ruddy Turnstones or Dunlins reported earlier.  Other than the
plovers, only Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, and about a dozen
immature Bald Eagles.

Gerry Hoekstra


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