[mou-net] week highlights from Carver County and warbler statistics
Overall it was pretty quiet in the area this past week. On November 6 there was a single Snow Goose and multiple migrating flocks of Tundra Swans at Rapids Lake MVNWR. I counted 111 swans in 5 flocks. I also heard 3 additional flocks that I was unable to find in the sky. Also at the unit were Killdeer, several Bluebird, Purple Finch, and White-winged Crossbill. On November 8 at Rapids Lake there were a single Bluebird, a couple Swamp Sparrow, and decent numbers of Red-winged and Rusty Blackbird along with the usual residents. I did have a flyover winter finch which was probably a Common Redpoll based on the call. I assume that the American Bittern seen on November 9 reported by Craig Mandel was the same bird I saw the day before, as the location described was pretty much where I saw it. Note that most of the stretch along North Shore Rd. is private property. Also on November 8 there were 3 Wilson's Snipe at Chevalle wetlands. Here is the breakdown of warbler species seen during the fall 2012 season followed by the 2008-2011 season percentages. Below that are the adjusted numbers including this year's totals. Yellow Warbler, Redstart, and Yellowthroat are excluded due to inconsistent counting of these species over the years. I did a better job counting those species this year but still likely overlooked some. Prothonotary and Cerulean Warbler while not included in the percentages for all the years are likely in the .02%-.04% range. In total there have been nearly the same number(around 4000) of the below species counted during the 2008-2012 spring seasons vs. those counted during the 2008-2012 fall seasons. Fall 2012 Blue-winged Warbler 0.70% Golden-winged Warbler 0.70% Tennessee Warbler 5.04% Orange-crowned Warbler 7.33% Nashville Warbler 9.81% Northern Parula 0.64% Chestnut-sided Warbler 7.79% Magnolia Warbler 4.58% Cape May Warbler 0.18% Yellow-rumped Warbler 36.30% Black-throated Green Warbler0.92% Blackburnian Warbler 1.83% Pine Warbler 0.18% Palm Warbler 3.39% Bay-breasted Warbler 0.92% Blackpoll Warbler 0.18% Black and White Warbler5.50% Prothonotary Warbler 0.09% Ovenbird 3.57% Northern Waterthrush 3.21% Connecticut Warbler 0.18% Mourning Warbler 0.82% Wilson's Warbler2.93% Canada Warbler 3.12% This compares to my counts for the 2008-2011 seasons 2008-2011 Percentages Spring Fall Blue-winged Warbler 3.62% 1.22% Golden-winged Warbler 0.55% 1.43% Tennessee Warbler 16.68%15.70% Orange-crowned Warbler 1.31% 6.50% Nashville Warbler 4.90% 15.73% Northern Parula 0.43% 0.28% Chestnut-sided Warbler 2.27% 4.89% Magnolia Warbler 2.73% 2.51% Cape May Warbler 0.52% 0.14% Yellow-rumped Warbler 43.44%29.83% Black-throated Green Warbler0.89% 0.73% Blackburnian Warbler 1.74% 1.26% Pine Warbler 0.30% 0.24% Palm Warbler 6.15% 2.27% Bay-breasted Warbler 0.56% 0.70% Blackpoll Warbler 3.45% 0.59% Black and White Warbler3.55% 4.12% Ovenbird 2.13% 2.24% Northern Waterthrush 1.84% 1.82% Connecticut Warbler 0.07% 0.07% Mourning Warbler 0.59% 0.73% Wilson's Warbler1.84% 4.61% Canada Warbler 0.36% 2.34% New 5 year percentages including totals from both the spring and fall 2012 seasons 2008-2012 Percentages Spring Fall Blue-winged Warbler 4.25% 1.07% Golden-winged Warbler 0.50% 1.24% Tennessee Warbler 17.79%12.76% Orange-crowned Warbler 1.12% 6.73% Nashville Warbler 4.16% 14.10% Northern Parula 0.50% 0.38% Chestnut-sided Warbler 1.79% 5.70% Magnolia Warbler 2.36% 3.09% Cape May Warbler 0.45% 0.15% Yellow-rumped Warbler 45.66%31.62% Black-throated Green Warbler0.72% 0.78% Blackburnian Warbler 1.44% 1.42% Pine Warbler 0.25% 0.23% Palm Warbler 5.95% 2.58% Bay-breasted Warbler 0.45% 0.76% Blackpoll Warbler 3.21% 0.48% Black and White Warbler3.14% 4.51%
[mou-net] Carver County
This morning I startled not one but three Long-eared Owls near Parley Lake at Carver Park Reserve. They were roosting together in the same tree on a low branch with some of the denser underbrush in the area when I walked by(within 10-15 feet). Luckily they did fly one by one, as I may not have noticed them. They only flew about 20 feet but in the direction I was headed, so they flew 2 more times about the same distance each time before they were comfortable letting me walk by without flying. Also this morning, I saw a small flock of 10 White-winged Crossbill at Rapids Lake MVNWR. They noisily flew into the area near the visitor's center from across the river. They stayed about 20 minutes and then flew back across the river. Also seen this morning were Sandhill Crane, Ring-billed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Horned Lark, Brown Creeper, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Fox, Swamp, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and Common Redpoll Highlights from the past couple weeks October 20 Carver Park Hermit Thrush 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Brewer's Blackbird ~50 Lake Waconia Surf Scoter 2 Rural(SW of Mayer) Franklin's Gull ~40 Ring-billed Gull ~100 Red-winged Blackbird 700+ Brewer's Blackbird 240+ Common Grackle 600+ Brown-headed Cowbird 20+ New Germany area Northern Harrier juvenile Great Blue Heron 3 Wilson's Snipe 2 Chevalle Wetlands Wilson's Snipe 7 Song Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 1 October 21 Rapids Lake MVNWR Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 American Tree Sparrow 2 Fox Sparrow 15 Song Sparrow 3 Swamp Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 3 Harris's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 20 Rusty Blackbird ~60 Purple Finch 2 Pine Siskin 9 Rural (W of Gotha) Red-winged Blackbird ~75 Brewer's Blackbird ~200 Common Grackle ~100 Brown-headed Cowbird ~25 October 23 Rapids Lake MVNWR Killdeer 3 Pectoral Sandpiper 3 Wilson's Snipe 2 Brown Creeper 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 American Tree Sparrow 14 Fox Sparrow 18 Song Sparrow 2 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 13 Harris's Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 75+ Brewer's Blackbird 1 Pine Siskin 2 Lake Waconia Surf Scoter 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Chevalle Wetlands Killdeer 1 Wilson's Snipe 1 November 1 Rapids Lake MVNWR Sandhill Crane 1 Killdeer 1 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Dunlin 1 Ring-billed Gull ~125 Fox Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 3 Assumption Lake Franklin's Gull ~52 Ring-billed Gull ~130 Red-winged Blackbird ~400 Common Grackle ~1600 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] Surf Scoter
The Surf Scoter was present mid-morning close to Lake Waconia beach. While I was unable to find the scoter the last two times I checked, this may be the same bird from Oct. 13. Also on the lake were 5 Common Loon and 2 Horned Grebe. 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] Carver County
Normally the Surf Scoter at Lake Waconia on Saturday(thanks to the report by Doug Kieser) would have been the highlight of the week. Today, though, a Hudsonian Godwit was at Chevalle wetlands(Chaska) taking the honors for the week. I believe this was a juvenile but could be wrong about that. Harris's Sparrow continue to be quite numerous at Rapids Lake MVNWR. Their numbers did decline today, but in their place was an increase(again) of Lincoln's and White-crowned. American Tree Sparrows have also begun to make their way to the refuge for the winter. October 11 Rapids Lake MVNWR Eastern Phoebe 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 13 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15 Hermit Thrush 3 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 16 Chipping Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 2 Fox Sparrow 39 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Swamp Sparrow 11 White-throated Sparrow 42 Harris's Sparrow 11 White-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco 30 October 13 Rapids Lake MVNWR Ring-billed Gull 18 Belted Kingfisher 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Brown Creeper 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 7 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Hermit Thrush 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 22 American Tree Sparrow 2 Fox Sparrow 24 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 10 White-throated Sparrow 30 Harris's Sparrow 13 Dark-eyed Junco 45 Lake Waconia Cackling Goose 1 Canvasback 2 Surf Scoter 1 Common Loon 2 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 1 American Coot 2000+ Franklin's Gull 3 Ring-billed Gull 40+ Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Chipping Sparrow 1 October 14 Carver Park(many areas with little to no activity) American Wigeon 18 Green-winged Teal 3 Ring-necked Duck 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Fox Sparrow 4 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 6 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 50 Brewer's Blackbird Lake Waconia Canvasback 3 Redhead 9 Pied-billed grebe 1 Horned Grebe 8 American Coot ~2000 Franklin's Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull 6 Eastern Phoebe 2 Chevalle wetlands(Chaska) Pied-billed Grebe 2 Northern Harrier 1 Killdeer 3 Wilson's Snipe 1 Savannah Sparrow 1 October 16 Rapids Lake MVNWR Bald Eagle 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Brown Creeper 2 Winter Wren 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 16 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Hermit Thrush 3 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 20 American Tree Sparrow 7 Field Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 15 Song Sparrow 9 Lincoln's Sparrow 5 Swamp Sparrow 7 White-throated Sparrow 9 Harris's Sparrow 5 White-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco 40 Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark 1 Rusty Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Common Grackle Assumption Lake Ring-necked Duck 4 Ruddy Duck 75 Marsh Wren 1 Lake Waconia Canada Goose 100 Wood Duck 4 Mallard 20 Canvasback 4 Redhead 85 Ring-necked Duck 1 Lesser Scaup 2 Ruddy Duck 9 Common Loon 1 Pied-billed Grebe 6 American Coot Franklin's Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull 10 Chevalle wetlands Killdeer 3 Hudsonain Godwit 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Wilson's Snipe 1 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] Carver County
It appears the strong west winds have guided the Brewer's Blackbird flocks to Carver County slightly early this fall. There was a blackbird flock of mainly Brewer's(some Red-winged) with 1250-1500 birds this morning southwest of Mayer. A 2nd flock of only Brewer's Blackbird with around 250 birds was along Salem Ave feeding in the road and in the farm field that was being plowed at the time. Also in that field were a couple hundred Franklin's Gull with around a hundred Ring-billed. There were almost no shorebirds in the New Germany area(1 Killdeer) but there were some Tree Swallow, 2 Western Meadowlark, and a Vesper Sparrow in that area. It is still a bit early for migrant waterfowl(besides Mallard) across Carver County with Ruddy Duck being the most numerous along with a few Wigeon and Hooded Merganser and my first of fall Lesser Scaup. A few lingering Blue-winged Teall were still around also. My first of fall Bonaparte's Gull was back as well. I did not check the Lake Waconia area but with the number of gulls around in other areas of the county, I would think that there would be a good number on that lake now. At Carver Park this morning there were Golden-crowned(3), Ruby-crowned Kinglet(3), Hermit Thrush(1), Yellow-rumped Warbler(10), Fox, Song, Lincoln's(1), Swamp, White-throated, Harris's(4), White-crowned(3) Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and a couple small migrant flocks of Red-winged Blackbird. At Rapids Lake MVNWR this afternoon there were Brown Creeper(1), Winter Wren(1), Golden-crowned(2), Ruby-crowned Kinglet(11), Hermit Thrush(1), Tennessee(1), Orange-crowned(5), Palm(2), Yellow-rumped(23) Warbler, Chipping(1), Clay-colored(1 adult), Field(1), Savannah(3), Fox, Song, Lincoln's(1), Swamp, White-throated, Harris's(10-12), White-crowned(3) Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco. Overall the number of Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and junco today had dropped compared to the past week or two 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] Carver County
October yielded the expected species this first week of the month. Over the week I found 74 species in the county. Highlights are below. October 2 Rapids Lake MVNWR Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 Eastern Phoebe 3 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Brown Creeper 2 House Wren 2 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 7 Yellow-rumped Warbler 15 Eastern Towhee 1 Savannah Sparrow 5 Fox Sparrow 18 Lincoln's Sparrow 6 Swamp Sparrow 6 White-throated Sparrow 60 Harris's Sparrow 6 White-crowned Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco 40 Indigo Bunting 2 Rusty Blackbird 12 Rural Green-winged Teal 6 Ruddy Duck 25 Pied-billed Grebe 15 American Coot ~120 Tree Swallow 8 Chipping Sparrow 4 Savannah Sparrow 6 October 4 Rapids Lake MVNWR (very gusty winds) Turkey Vulture 1 Brown Creeper 2 Winter Wren 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 13 Hermit Thrush 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Fox Sparrow 30 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 35 Harris's Sparrow 3 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 30 October 6 Carver Park Reserve American Wigeon 6 Green-winged Teal 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 American Golden-Plover 1 Killdeer 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 24 Fox Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 15 Harris's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 4 Dark-eyed Junco 30 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Purple Finch 3 New Germany area Killdeer 12 Dunlin 1 Wilson's Snipe 1 Franklin's Gull ~75(in farm field being plowed) Ring-billed Gull ~100 October 7 Rapids Lake MVNWR Great Egret 4 (southbound migrants) Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Eastern Phoebe 5 Brown Creeper 4 House Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 16 Hermit Thrush 5 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 11 Fox Sparrow 30 Lincoln's Sparrow 4 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 40 Harris's Sparrow 7 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 40+ Rusty Blackbird ~30 Purple Finch 3 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] Carver County
A nice variety of mainly the usual late migrants/stragglers continue through the area with 4 vireo, 10 warbler, and 12 sparrow species over the past few days. September 27 Rapids Lake MVNWR Eastern Phoebe 4 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 Brown Creeper 2 House Wren 3 Winter Wren 2 Sedge Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 22 Lapland Longspur 2 Tennessee Warbler 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 13 Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 6 Yellow-rumped Warbler 48 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 3 Field Sparrow 3 Savannah Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 20 Song Sparrow 16 Lincoln's Sparrow 8 Swamp Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 70 Harris's Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Indigo Bunting 1 September 29 Carver Park Reserve Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Gray Catbird 5 Orange-crowned Warbler 7 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Field Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 30 Harris's Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 30 New Germany area Killdeer 60 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Franklin's Gull 1 Tree Swallow 70 American Pipit 2 Field Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 1 Half of Carver Creek Loop Red-eyed Vireo 1 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Fox Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 15 Harris's Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 4 September 30 Rapids Lake MVNWR Great Egret 6 Eastern Phoebe 2 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 2 House Wren 1 Winter Wren 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9 Eastern Bluebird 27 Gray Catbird 1 Ovenbird 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 7 Common Yellowthroat 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 14 Field Sparrow 2 Savannah Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 11 Lincoln's Sparrow 6 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 50 Harris's Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco 8 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 4 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] Carver County
The variety and number of warbler/vireo in the area has sharply declined being replaced by kinglets, sparrow, and in the past couple of days the usual surge of Yellow-rumped Warbler. This month most of my time has been spent at Rapids Lake, as both Carver Park and the arboretum yielded less migrants during my visits this fall compared to previous falls. Typically I consider birding to be better at Rapids Lake during the spring season and better at Carver Park/arboretum during the fall season.That has not been the case this year for the fall season. September 20 Rapids Lake MVNWR Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Killdeer 1 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Barred Owl 1 Eastern Phoebe 4 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 House Wren 5 Winter Wren 1 Sedge Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 3 Northern Parula 1 Palm Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Wilson's Warbler 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 45 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 5 September 22 Carver Park Reserve Osprey 1 Sandhill Crane 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 10 White-throated Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco 6 Carver Creek Loop Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue-headed Vireo 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 Orange-crowned Warbler 8 Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 1 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 17 Dark-eyed Junco 4 September 23 Rapids Lake MVNWR Eastern Phoebe 3 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Horned Lark 4 Brown Creeper 3 House Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 7 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14 Hermit Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 8 Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 30 Wilson's Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Fox Sparrow 3 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 40 Harris's Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 8 September 25 Rapids Lake MVNWR Great Blue Heron 6 Great Egret 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Sandhill Crane 2 Killdeer 2 Eastern Phoebe 5 Blue-headed Vireo 3 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Wren 1 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 16 Gray Catbird 1 Brown Thrasher 1 Ovenbird 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 7 Nashville Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 5 Magnolia Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 7 Yellow-rumped Warbler 54 Clay-colored Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 6 Lincoln's Sparrow 7 Swamp Sparrow 6 White-throated Sparrow 60 Harris's Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 7 Indigo Bunting 1 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] Carver County
Birding continues to be consistently good in the area. This fall has lacked the normal lull that I have become accustomed to occurring sometime during the first half of September. There has been the slower day mixed in, but it's not lasted any longer than that. Select counts are below. September 15 Carver Park Reserve Broad-winged Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 Barred Owl 1 Sandhill Crane 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Sedge Wren 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 1 (male) Magnolia Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 White-throated Sparrow 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 Carver Creek Loop Trail at Rapids Lake MVNWR Turkey Vulture 1 Bald Eagle 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Orange-crowned Warabler 1 Nashville Warbler 7 Common Yellowthroat 3 Magnolia Warbler 2 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 (adult male) September 16 Rapids Lake MVNWR (inorthern 2/3 of Rapids Lake Trail and Carver Creek Loop) Double-crested Cormorant ~40 American White Pelican ~300 Sandhill Crane 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Least Flycatcher 1 Alder/Willow Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 5 Blue-headed Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo 4 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 (including a juvenile begging for food and being fed) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Northern Waterthrush 1 Black-and-white Warbler 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 8 Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart 5 Cape May Warbler 1 (immature male) Magnolia Warbler 3 Blackburnian Warbler 1 (immature) Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 (male) Canada Warbler 1 (male) Rose-breasted Grosbeak 14 Indigo Bunting 10 September 17 Carver Creek Loop Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue-headed Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Tennessee Warbler 3 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 1 Mourning Warbler 1 male Common Yellowthroat 10 American Redstart 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Fox Sparrow 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 6 White-throated Sparrow 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 Indigo Bunting 6 September 18 Rapids Lake MVNWR (loop not as active as the day before) American White Pelican ~150 (many departing lake) Great Egret 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Chimney Swift 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 6 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 5 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Tree Swallow 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 Sedge Wren 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 7 American Redstart 1 male Magnolia Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 adult Yellow Warbler 1 immature Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 11 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Fox Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 35+ Lincoln's Sparrow 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 9 Indigo Bunting 1 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] Carver County
Birding this morning was quite productive at Rapids Lake MVNWR. I covered the 1/2 mile loop trail south of the visitor's center, the Rapids Lake trail from the visitor's center to just north of the 3rd outlet channel, and a portion of the Carver Loop trail at the north end of the unit from the end of the Rapids Lake trail. I turned around as the Carver Loop trail began running along the west/east flowing creek that borders the north side of the unit. Activity was greatest from Carver Rapids(Minnesota River) to just south of the first outlet channel and north of the 2nd outlet channel all the way to the north edge of the unit. Lincoln's Sparrow were quite numerous today, and there were likely more than what I counted especially along the Carver Loop trail. Rapids Lake itself was covered in pelican. The complete list of birds is below(not all species counted). Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan Wood Duck Mallard Wild Turkey Double-crested Cormorant American White Pelican 450+ (view of far north end of Rapids Lake was obstructed so not all pelican were counted) Great Blue Heron Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Killdeer 4 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Ring-billed Gull 4 Mourning Dove Chimney Swift 5 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Easatern Wood-Pewee 2 Eastern Phoebe 5 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 3 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 6 Philadelphia Vireo 4 (probably a 5th bird) Red-eyed Vireo 6 Blue Jay 50 (first migrant flocks(28 and 13) of fall) American Crow Tree Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 1 Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren 10 Marsh Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Eastern Bluebird 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 American Robin Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird 2 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 3 (including a breeding plumage male showing no signs of molt) Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Nashville Warbler 8 Connecticut Warbler 1 male Common Yellowthroat 25 American Redstart 2 (including an adult male) Magnolia Warbler 3 (1 adult and 2 immature) Yellow Warbler 1 female Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 2 (both female) Field Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 18 (including a tailless recently fledged bird with some down remaining, a presumed parent was next to it) Lincoln's Sparrow 9 White-throated Sparrow 8 Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak 13 Indigo Bunting 2 Eastern Meadowlark 1 Common Grackle American Goldfinch 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] Carver County
Migrant warbler have not been quite as numerous the past few days. Today, especially, birds were pretty hard to come by. Though there was a nice variety. Winds yesterday and today were not a factor as winds yesterday were still light in the morning and today winds didn't really pick up until mid-morning and many areas along the river were protected from the southerly winds. Once again select counts are below. September 9 Rapids Lake MVNWR (3.5 miles, 3 miles covered twice) Spotted Sandpiper 1 Great Horned Owl 1 heard only Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 4 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 6 Tree Swallow ~30 (swallow counts are rough estimates) Bank Swallow ~15 Barn Swallow ~60 House Wren 5 Sedge Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 9 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 2 Tennessee Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 5 Mourning Warbler 3 (1 male and 2 female) Common Yellowthroat 16 American Redstart 4 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 1 male Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 4 (3 male and 1 female) Scarlet Tanager 1 White-throated Sparrow 4 September 10 Carver Park Reserve (2 miles) Sandhill Crane 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Eastern Phoebe 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Northern Waterthrush 3 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 3 American Redstart 3 Northern Parula 1 male Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 White-throated Sparrow 2 September 11 Rapids Lake MVNWR (3 miles twice) Spotted Sandpiper 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 7 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Ovenbird 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 4 American Redstart 5 Magnolia Warbler 1 immature Blackburnian Warbler 1 immature Yellow Warbler 1 male Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 female White-throated Sparrow 2 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] Carver County
It was a bit quieter in the area late this past week after the frontal passage Tuesday. I wasn't able to spend as much time out as I would have liked until today, so I couldn't get an accurate representation of what was around. This really is the year for shorebirds in Carver County, as yesterday a few more turned up on the sand banks of the Minnesota River at Rapids Lake. I haven't been out to the New Germany area in a couple weeks, as I finally decided to cut back on my driving/gas usage after the daily shorebird checks this summer. I would think there would be some things out there. Today at Rapids Lake it was back to only Killdeer. Be aware of hunting at Rapids Lake as I had a gunshot go off within probably 100 feet of me towards Rapids Lake(at least I hope it was that direction) on the other side of some trees. I was ready for it, since I heard the fake goose call before it went off. September 5 arboretum(quietest it's been this fall though it was at a rather poor time of day) Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Ovenbird 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 4 Purple Finch 1 September 6 Carver Park (short 3/4 mile morning walk) Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Sedge Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 September 7 Rapids Lake ( 1.5 mile walk) Killdeer 1 Sanderling 1 Least Sandpiper 1 Peep species 5 Wilson's Phalarope 1 (adult bird, still with quite a bit of breeding plumage probably a male) Ring-billed Gull 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Ovenbird 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Northern Parula 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 September 8 Rapids Lake (3.5 mile walk) Turkey Vulture 1 Sora 1 Killdeer 5 Ring-billed Gull 1 Caspian Tern 7 Great Horned Owl 1 Chimney Swift 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 8 Yellow-throated Vireo 4 Blue-headed Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Tree Swallow 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Ovenbird 4 Northern Waterthrush 2 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 male (mostly breeding plumage still) Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 6 American Redstart 7 Magnolia Warbler 1 adult Blackburnian Warbler 1 adult Pine Warbler 1 male Wilson's Warbler 1 female Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 8 Indigo Bunting 1 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] Carver County past several days(Prothonotary and Connecticut Warbler today)
Birding continues to be good in the area with most of my time spent at Rapids Lake. From August 30 to September 4 I found a total of 20 warbler species. Though the best days turned up 13 on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. On Saturday I was only able to find 7 warbler species combined at both the arboretum and Rapids Lake(though all 7 were at the arboretum with repeats at Rapids Lake). Yesterday there was a relatively late Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Rapids Lake that picked off a grasshopper from near the trail and proceeded to follow me for a short time along the trail until he darted in front of a Tennessee Warbler stealing the insect that the warbler had been chasing. The adult male Prothonotary Warbler was further north than I had ever walked(when beginning at the visitors center) by about 1/4 mile closer to the city of Carver trail access. Like other fall Prothonotary Warblers I have seen at Rapids Lake(not many and over 2 weeks later than my previous latest), he was quite curious and cooperative. The Connecticut Warbler was between the two outlet channels, but I have seen them in other spots along the river trail in past falls. Select daily counts are below. August 30 Carver Park Golden-winged Warbler 1 male Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 10 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 2 (male and female) Wilson's Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 September 1 landscape arboretum Ruby-throated Hummingbird ~20 Philadelphia Vireo 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Sedge Wren 1 Swainson's Thrush 3 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 3 Golden-winged Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 2 American Redstart 12 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 (at least 2 adult) Clay-colored Sparrow 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak ~25 Purple Finch 1 September 1 Rapids Lake MVNWR Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Ovenbird 7 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 8 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 September 2 Rapids Lake MVNWR Chimney Swift 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3 Swainson's Thrush 1 Ovenbird 4 Northern Waterthrush 5 Golden-winged Warbler 1 male Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 5 Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart 14 Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 5 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 (at least 1 adult) Canada Warbler 2 (male and immature) September 3 Rapids Lake MVNWR (covering about 1.5 miles fewer trails than normal) Sora 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 4 Warbling Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 House Wren 3 Sedge Wren 2 Marsh Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Northern Waterthrush 2 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 5 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 7 Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 1 female Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 2 (male and female) White-throated Sparrow 1 Baltimore Oriole 1 September 4 Rapids Lake MVNWR Sora 1 Semipalmated Plover 1 Killdeer 6 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 4 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 4 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Swainson's Thrush 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 3 Black-and-white Warbler 3 Prothonotary Warbler 1 male Nashville Warbler 1 Connecticut Warbler 1 female Common Yellowthroat 6 American Redstart 7 Magnolia Warbler 2 Blackburnian Warbler 1 adult Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Canada Warbler 2 (both female) Wilson's Warbler 1 female 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] Carver County
The arboretum yesterday turned up a decent variety of migrants but not many of each, and today Rapids Lake MVNWR had spurts of activity but less than this past Sunday. August 27 arboretum select count Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 1 American Redstart 6 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 August 28 Rapids Lake select count Chimney Swift 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 5 Warbling Vireo 4 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 7 Sedge Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 2 Black-and-white Warbler 4 Nashville Warbler 2 Mourning Warbler 1 female Common Yellowthroat 4 American Redstart 9 Magnolia Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 1 female Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 (male and female, possibly a 3rd bird) Canada Warbler 3 (male, female, and immature) 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] Carver County
Warblers continue with good numbers both yesterday and today. While it always seems early during mid-August for migrants, this year is not that much different in regards to dates in Carver County. Compared to 2008-2011, it is probably slightly early for the number and variety of species that were around during the August 10-20 period. August 14, 2007 turned up 14 warbler species so it is likely not that unusual to have double-digit warbler species totals during this time period. That date is memorable for me as it was the first Canada Warbler "fallout" I witnessed. What is unusual this August is the relative lack of Tennessee Warbler. Normally they are the dominant migrant warbler species, but so far this August they have been outnumbered by Chestnut-sided and nearly equaled by 4 other migrant species. I have read some reports of higher Tennessee Warbler numbers in Wisconsin and Illinois. Apparently, at least so far, they are staying east. Yesterday at Carver Park Reserve I was able to turn up 10 warbler species, but outside of a stretch of trail in southern parts of the park accessed from the rec area, it was a struggle to find warbler or much of any activity for that matter. Today at Rapids Lake MVNWR the length of the river trail I walked(to a bit north of the 2nd outlet channel) was once again active, but it was not constant. August 25 Carver Park select count Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3 Veery 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Ovenbird 1 Golden-winged Warbler 1 male Black-and-white Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 3 American Redstart 9 Magnolia Warbler 4 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 Wilson's Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 August 26 Rapids Lake MVNWR select count Northern Harrier 1 female Broad-winged Hawk 1 juvenile Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 6 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo 5 Red-eyed Vireo 8 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 3 Black-and-white Warbler 5 Tennessee Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 7 American Redstart 13 (8 male and 5 female/immature) Magnolia Warbler 2 (adult and immature) Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 4 (1 adult and 3 immature) Yellow Warbler 2 (both female) Chestnut-sided Warbler 11 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 (male and immature female) Canada Warbler 1 male Wilson's Warbler 2 (both male) 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] Carver County warbler
Yesterday at the arboretum turned up less variety of warbler, and those that were around were not especially cooperative. Warbler totals- Ovenbird 2, Tennessee Warbler 1, Nashville Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat uncounted, American Redstart 1, Magnolia Warbler 4, Chestnut-sided Warbler 5, Wilson's Warbler 4 (2 male and 2 female) At Rapids Lake MVNWR, I began the morning well with a Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, and Tennessee Warbler within 20 minutes of being out, so my expectations were raised. The next 45 minutes proved otherwise as I hit a bit of a dead zone along the river which has normally been active over the past week or two. In this area they have been doing some tree and brush removal along the edge of the trail. Once I got north of the first outlet channel I began hitting birds again. Brush removal had not occurred north of this channel. I continued north of the 2nd outlet channel further than I normally go and ran into 2 small pockets of migrants. On my return trip I came upon a River Otter in the forest. He was heading towards the trail from the west(and Rapids Lake). He stopped at the edge of the trail when he saw me. I don't think he was too bothered by me as he just casually walked ahead of me a bit before crossing the trail heading towards the river. Back towards the visitors center brush was now being removed, and close to the visitors center a trail closed sign was blocking the river trail. The sign was not present when I first went out. The morning ended with a flourish of late activity(10-10:30) in the wooded section of the loop trail south of the visitors center. Warbler count Ovenbird 1 (in loop trail wave) Golden-winged Warbler 2 (male feeding in goldenrod near visitor's center feeders and immature in loop wave) Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 6 (2 in loop wave) Nashville Warbler 3 (2 in loop wave) Mourning Warbler 1 female Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 12 Magnolia Warbler 4 Blackburnian Warbler 1 (adult in loop wave) Chestnut-sided Warbler 7-9 (2-4 in loop wave) Pine Warbler 1 (male in loop wave) Canada Warbler 1 male Wilson's Warbler 2 (both female, 1 in loop wave) 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] Carver County
Good birding continues in the area with 13 warbler species at the arboretum yesterday and 15 warbler species at Rapids Lake MVNWR this morning. August 20 arboretum select count (also saw a Caspian Tern near Lake Grace in Chaska later in the day) Ruby-throated Hummingbird 13 Eastern Wood-Pewee 10 Least Flycatcher 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 4 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 7 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Black-and-white Warbler 5 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 9 American Redstart 2 Magnolia Warbler 6 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 (likely a female) Blackburnian Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 Canada Warbler 2 (both female) Wilson's Warbler 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 8 August 21 Rapids Lake MVNWR select count Black-billed Cuckoo 1 (I suspect that these and Yellow-billed Cuckoo may hybridize here) Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 Least Flycatcher 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 7 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Purple Martin 2 (adult male and juvenile) Bank Swallow 2 Sedge Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 3 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 7 Nashville Warbler 1 Mourning Warbler 2 (female and immature) Common Yellowthroat 4 American Redstart ~15 Northern Parula 2 Magnolia Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 adult Yellow Warbler 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Canada Warbler 3 (2 male and 1 immature) Wilson's Warbler 4 (2 male and 2 female) Scarlet Tanager 1 Baltimore Oriole 2 (male and immature) 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] Carver County weekend birding
I enjoyed good birding Friday at the arboretum, Saturday at Carver Park Reserve, and today at Rapids Lake MVNWR with 18 warbler species over the three days. Today had the highest warbler species total with 14. Canada Warbler were especially numerous today with 10 beating my previous high count of 9 on August 20 last year at the arboretum. August 17 U of M Landscape Arboretum select count Broad-winged Hawk 2 Great Horned Owl 1 Chimney Swift 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee 8 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 House Wren 1 Marsh Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 Ovenbird 1 Golden-winged Warbler 1 immature female Black-and-white Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 4 American Redstart 4 Cape May Warbler 1 male Blackburnian Warbler 1 immature Yellow Warbler 1 female Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 Canada Warbler 1 female Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 7 August 18 Carver Park Reserve select count Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 9 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 3 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 7 House Wren 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 13 Ovenbird 1 Golden-winged Warbler 1 female Black-and-white Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 15 American Redstart 17 Magnolia Warbler 2 Blackburnian Warbler 1 adult Yellow Warbler 1 immature Canada Warbler 1 female Chipping, Clay-colored, Field, Song, and Swamp Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 1 Bobolink 4 August 19 Rapids Lake MNVWR select count Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 (this cuckoo was just perched on a dead snag soaking in the sun) Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 6 Alder/Willow Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 House Wren 5 Marsh Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Northern Waterthrush 2 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 4 Mourning Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 14 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 male (this bird had more breeding plumage remaining than any Bay-breasted Warbler I have seen during the month of August) Blackburnian Warbler 2 (adult and immature) Yellow Warbler 2 (male and female) Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 10 (4 male and 6 female) Wilson's Warbler 3 male Baltimore Oriole 7 (5 male and 2 immature) 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] Carver County
It appears that the majority of the shorebirds that had been near New Germany left the area over the past day or two with yesterday's frontal passage. Today I counted 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Spotted, 2 Semipalmated, 15 Least, and 2 Pectoral Sandpiper. I did notice a few unidentified shorebirds here and there but not that many. After finding a Red-headed Woodpecker in that same area a couple months ago, I had failed to see any there over the summer despite repeated attempts to find one. Today, though, there were 2 Red-headed Woodpecker in plain view on a dead tree. Warblers this morning at Rapids Lake MVNWR included 2 Blue-winged, 1 Black-and-white(immature), 1 Tennessee, 2-3 Nashville, 3 Common Yellowthroat, 18 American Redstart, 4-5 Magnolia, 2 Yellow, 1 Chestnut-sided, and 2 Canada(male and female). There was also a Black-billed Cuckoo at the unit. 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] Carver County warblers and shorebirds
This morning I spent a couple hours at the arboretum turning up some migrants and went out to the New Germany area for shorebirds. I did not go to 158th St, so I missed on the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, but it's good to know that they are here. The biggest surprise of the day was a Dunlin. Select arboretum count Chimney Swift 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 (saw 6 the other day so likely just missed them) Eastern Wood-Pewee 7 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 3 House Wren 2 Marsh Wren 3 Black-and-white Warbler 1 male Tennessee Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart 5 Blackburnian Warbler 1 adult Yellow Warbler 1 male Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Canada Warbler 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 Indigo Bunting 2 Baltimore Oriole 1 immature New Germany shorebird count (Again not all birds identified or counted. I didn't feel I could do an accurate count of unidentified shorebirds either) Spotted Sandpiper 1 juvenile Solitary Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 40 Semipalmated Sandpiper 4 Least Sandpiper 12 Pectoral Sandpiper 20 Dunlin 1 Stilt Sandpiper 20-30 Wilson's Phalarope 1 juvenile 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] Carver County
Shorebirds continue and passerines have begun to move south through Carver County. This morning I birded a few hours at Rapids Lake MVNWR in interesting conditions. A wall of ground fog was on the east side of the Minnesota River over Louisville Swamp with one vein of dense fog over a small part of the Rapids Lake unit but most of the unit had little fog and what was around burned off quickly providing good viewing conditions. Rapids Lake count Canada Goose 23 Trumpeter Swan 2 Wood Duck Mallard Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Bald Eagle 2 (adult and flight-capable juvenile apparently begging for food) Mourning Dove 4 Great Horned Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 4 Eastern Kingbird 3 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow ~110 Bank Swallow ~20 Cliff Swallow 7 Barn Swallow 2 Black-capped Chickadee ~15 White-breasted Nuthatch 5 House Wren 8 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Eastern Bluebird 2 American Robin 10 Gray Catbird 12 Cedar Waxwing 4 Northern Waterthrush 2 (together) Black-and-white Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 9 American Redstart 11 Yellow Warbler 4 (3 singing(like spring) male and 1 female) Canada Warbler 1 female Field Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 male Indigo Bunting 4 Baltimore Oriole 4 (1 male, 1 female, and 2 immature) American Goldfinch ~15 Shorebird habitat is rapidly drying along 158th St.(around 30 shorebirds present today) and in a few days the only shorebird habitat remaining in Carver County will be the Yancy, Yale, Cty. Rd. 30 area near New Germany Shorebird count (not all birds counted or identified in the New Germany area) Solitary Sandpiper 2 (New Germany) Willet 1 (New Germany) Lesser Yellowlegs 18 (New Germany) Semipalmated Sandpiper 3 (158th St.) Least Sandpiper 44 (New Germany and 158th St.) Baird's Sandpiper 9 (New Germany and 158th St.) Pectoral Sandpiper 18 (New Germany and 158th St.) Short-billed Dowitcher 1 (New Germany) On August 9 there was an American Golden-Plover along 158th St. and a Least Flycatcher was the only obvious migrant I was able to find at Carver Park Reserve. On August 10 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum I found a couple more Least Flycatcher along with Black-and-white, Yellow, and Chestnut-sided Warbler. 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] Shorebirds
Shorebirds continue to be reliable in Carver County. July 27, though, turned up the fewest number of shorebirds for the entire month beaten even by July 1. July 27 Carver County Solitary Sandpiper 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 Least Sandpiper 5 July 28 Carver County Solitary Sandpiper 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 8 Least Sandpiper 4 Pectoral Sandpiper 6 Wilson's Phalarope 1 Unidentified shorebirds 20 July 29 Carver County Semipalmated Plover 1 Solitary Sandpiper 4 Lesser Yellowlegs 39 Least Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 40 July 31 Carver County Semipalmated Plover 1 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 7 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 Least Sandpiper 4 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Unidentified shorebirds 55 Sibley County Least Sandpiper 6 Wilson's Snipe 1 Unidentified peeps 5 Unidentified shorebirds 10 August 2 Carver County Solitary Sandpiper 6 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 24 Semipalmated Sandpiper 8 Least Sandpiper 21 Baird's Sandpiper 2 Pectoral Sandpiper 38 Sibley County Spotted Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 5 Peep species 30 (both Least and Semipalmated) Wilson's Phalarope 1 Unidentified shorebirds 20 August 4 Carver County Semipalmated Plover 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 59 Semipalmated Sandpiper 7 Least Sandpiper 20 Unidentified peeps 55 Pectoral Sandpiper 109 Wilson's Phalarope 1 Sibley County Solitary Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 1 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] Shorebirds this week
A decent number of shorebirds departed the area the 24 hours between the mornings of July 23 and 24 likely before the overnight storms hit, as I checked areas as the heavy rain was just coming to an end. Since the storm shorebird numbers have been less. July 23 Carver County Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 15 Greater Yellowlegs 4 Lesser Yellowlegs 24 Least Sandpiper 17 Baird's Sandpiper 2 Pectoral Sandpiper 17 Short-billed Dowitcher 11 Wilson's Phalarope 1 Unidentified shorebird species ~150 Sibley County Lesser Yellowlegs 4 Least Sandpiper 20 Pectoral Sandpiper 35 Short-billed Dowitcher 3 Unidentified shorebird species ~75 July 24 Carver County Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 8 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 14 Semipalmated Sandpiper 6 Least Sandpiper 28 Pectoral Sandpiper 8 Wilson's Phalarope 2 Unidentified peep species 29 Sibley County Spotted Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Least Sandpiper 7 Pectoral Sandpiper 3 July 25 Carver County Greater Yellowlegs 6 Lesser Yellowlegs 12 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 10 Wilson's Phalarope 1 Sibley County Least Sandpiper 6 Pectoral Sandpiper 6 Unidentified shorebird species 5 July 26 Carver County Semipalmated Plover 2 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 4 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 11 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 18 Pectoral Sandpiper 7 Unidentified shorebird species 10 Sibley County Least Sandpiper 2 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Short-billed Dowitcher 1 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] Carver County(and Sibley)
For those of you wondering about the Yancy Ave area southwest of New Germany(since I haven't mentioned it), it has not been until this past week that water has dropped enough to provide good habitat. Beginning this past Tuesday, mainly pelicans had begun staging in this area. Yesterday and today there were even higher numbers of pelicans, egrets, and herons staging in the area. Today was the first day since early April that a decent amount of mud was showing. Most of this mud was too distant to view. Yancy/Yale/Cty. Rd 32 count July 21 American White Pelican 250+ Great Egret 75+ Great Blue Heron 40+ Bald Eagle 1 July 22 Double-crested Cormorant 12 American White Pelican ~175 (around 1/3 flew in from the west and landed while I was present) Great Egret ~200 Great Blue Heron 15 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Northern Harrier 1 Solitary Sandpiper 7 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Unidentified peep species ~30 Unidentified shorebird species 10 Additional Carver County counts July 21 Sandhill Crane 3 Solitary Sandpiper 3 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 9 Semipalmated Sandpiper 5 Least Sandpiper 26 Pectoral Sandpiper 10 Short-billed Dowitcher 5 Wilson's Phalarope 3 July 22 Spoted Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 12 Semipalmated Sandpiper 30 Least Sandpiper 25 Pectoral Sandpiper 10 Short-billed Dowitcher Yes Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher 34 Wilson's Phalarope 2 (including a juvenile bird) Sibley County July 21 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Least Sandpiper 35 Baird's Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 10 Short-billed Dowitcher 6 July 22 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 5 Least Sandpiper 15 Baird's Sandpiper 8 (I believe I saw a couple juvenile birds but can not be certain) Pectoral Sandpiper 10 Short-billed Dowticher 5 Wilson's Phalarope 3 Unidentified shorebird species ~50 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] Shorebirds
My luck with rain keeping fields flooded this year has run out, as Carver County missed out again yesterday on significant rain. Lesser numbers of shorebirds were around today with less habitat available. Counts this week Monday July 16 Carver County Solitary Sandpiper 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 26 Least Sandpiper 149 Pectoral Sandpiper 145 Short-billed Dowitcher 21 Sibley County Lesser Yellowlegs 8 Sanderling 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 Least Sandpiper 65 Pectoral Sandpiper 15 Stilt Sandpiper 2 Short-billed Dowitcher 3 Tuesday July 17 Carver County Spotted Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 6 Lesser Yellowlegs 33 Least Sandpiper 113 Pectoral Sandpiper 101 Short-billed Dowitcher 19 Wilson's Phalarope 1 Sibley County Lesser Yellowlegs 7 Least Sandpiper 100 Pectoral Sandpiper 14 Stilt Sandpiper 1 Short-billed Dowitcher 5 McLeod County Least Sandpiper 10 Baird's Sandpiper 2 Thursday July 19 Carver County Solitary Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 8 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 62 Baird's Sandpiper 3 Pectoral Sandpiper 42 Short-billed Dowitcher 20 Sibley County Solitary Sandpiper 4 Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Least Sandpiper 30 Pectoral Sandpiper 10 Stilt Sandpiper 2 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] Carver County(and Sibley)
The few remaining flooded fields have about 1/2 the water that they had last weekend besides those that dried completely in Carver County. They have especially dried the past few days. I also checked flooded areas in Sibley County along 200th St. southeast of Green Isle the past 2 days. It looks like there had been a very large flooded field at a 4-way intersection with each corner flooded. Yesterday that particular field was mainly mud with a few puddles that had Killdeer and some Least Sandpiper(mud and only some Killdeer today). The southwest corner of the intersection had the most water which remained today. While portions east of the metro got over an inch of rain on Friday Carver County saw very little, so if it remains dry this week most areas will likely be dry by next weekend July 14 Carver County count Solitary Sandpiper 9 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 45 Least Sandpiper 103 Pectoral Sandpiper 35 Stilt Sandpiper 2 Short-billed Dowitcher 33 Wilson's Phalarope 3 Sibley County Lesser Yellowlegs 20 Least Sandpiper 50 Pectoral Sandpiper 6 Stilt Sandpiper 1 Short-billed Dowitcher 9 July 15 Carver County Solitary Sandpiper 3 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 48 Least Sandpiper 90 Baird's Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 64 Short-billed Dowitcher 14 Long-billed Dowitcher 1 (seen at close range, side by side comparisons with Short-billed) Sibley County Solitary Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 15 Least Sandpiper 75 Pectoral Sandpiper 25 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 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] Carver County
Shorebirds continue with the continued personal best numbers of Short-billed Dowitcher. All dowitcher this fall have been hendersoni except for one questionable griseus yesterday and a noticeably larger dowitcher(compared to others around it) that was sleeping that after the fact I thought could have been a Long-billed last week. July 12 Solitary Sandpiper 9 Greater Yellowlegs 10 Lesser Yellowlegs 94 Least Sandpiper 95 Pectoral Sandpiper 20 Short-billed Dowitcher 23 July 13 Solitary Sandpiper 3 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 37 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 Least Sandpiper 70 (at least 3 juvenile) Baird's Sandpiper 1 (probably an additional 2 birds) Pectoral Sandpiper 20 Stilt Sandpiper 9 Short-billed Dowitcher 24 Wilson's Phalarope 1 (breeding plumage female, possibly a 2nd bird) 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] Carver County
Shorebird variety continued to be pretty much the same as it has been. Habitat, though, is drying fast. Without significant rain I may be out of luck by early next week. Any other typical shorebird habitat in Carver County has too much water. July 8 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Solitary Sandpiper 17 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 5 Least Sandpiper 199 Pectoral Sandpiper 4 Short-billed Dowitcher 4 July 9 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 9 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 11 Least Sandpiper 326 (first juvenile of fall) Pectoral Sandpiper 4 Stilt Sandpiper 1 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 July 10 Solitary Sandpiper 8 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 27 Least Sandpiper 251 (flock of ~150 departed a flooded field a bit past 6 this morning heading south) Pectoral Sandpiper 4 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] Carver County shorebirds
Wrapping up what may end up being the best shorebirding for the first week of July that I ever experience, the past 2 days has seen a surge in Least Sandpiper numbers. For location information, contact me.Be aware. All locations are along shoulderless roads with no ability to pull off.. July 6 Killdeer an inaccurate count of lots Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 11 at 3 locations Greater Yellowlegs 5 at 2 locations Lesser Yellowlegs 16 at 4 locations Least Sandpiper 79 at 7 locations Baird's Sandpiper 6 at 2 locations Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Peep species 4 Short-billed Dowitcher 12 at 3 locations Shorebird species 35 July 7 Killdeer still lots Solitary Sandpiper 19 at 3 locations Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 13 at 4 locations Least Sandpiper 153 at 4 locations Baird's Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Peep species 25 Short-billed Dowitcher 4 at 2 locations 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] Carver County 11 shorebird species including Avocet
Per usual numbers and variety of shorebirds had changed again this morning compared to yesterday. Every morning this past week that I have been out I have checked the same fields twice. Each morning the numbers have changed between 6:00 and 7:30 with birds both arriving and departing at this time. Today's count Killdeer uncounted (significantly less than the past couple days) American Avocet 3 (breeding plumage birds that departed to the west with 2 Lesser Yellowlegs) Spotted Sandpier 2 Solitary Sandpiper 7 Greater Yellowlegs 7 Willet 2 (each a lone bird, one bird though was singing and calling often) Lesser Yellowlegs 21 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 41 (though the same count as yesterday, 37 today were in 1 flock, the largest flock yesterday was 16) Baird's Sandpiper 5 (firsts time I have heard this species calling) Short-billed Dowitcher 1 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] Carver County
Just like this past spring's shorebird migration, fall is beginning much better than usual in the remaining flooded areas of western Carver County. Besides shorebirds about the only notable birds were 3 Black Terns that fed in a flooded field until they flew off to the south this morning. July 3 Solitary Sandpiper 7 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 33 Least Sandpiper 18 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 July 4 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Solitary Sandpiper 11 Lesser Yellowlegs 10 Least Sandpiper 41 Baird's Sandpiper 2 (breeding plumage adult and molting adult) Peep species 18 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 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] Carver County fall migrants
This year has resulted in the shortest amount of time between the last spring migrant and the first fall migrant that I have witnessed(15 days). The first few Yellowlegs(Greater and Lesser) were in 2 flooded fields on June 26. This morning, July 1, there was more passing through the area in several flooded fields. Additionally a flock of 21 Franklin's Gull arrived to a flooded field a bit after 6:30 this morning from the northwest. This is a month earlier than I have ever seen a Franklin's Gull in Carver County in the "fall", so I presume these to be wandering non-breeders. I also saw my first flocking blackbirds(Red-winged and Grackle) since spring. Shorebirds Killdeer (many) Spotted Sandpiper 3 (locals or migrants?) Solitary Sandpiper 6 Lesser Yellowlegs 31 Least Sandpiper 4 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 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] Carver County
Since I have run into so many Dickcissel quite casually the past few weeks across Carver County, I decided to do a more thorough count of Dickcissel this morning. I found 1 copulating pair and 58 territories totaling 62 Dickcissel. The majority of these were singing males, so the number can likely be doubled. I covered mainly only central areas of the county from Chaska northwest to the south fork of the Crow River near Mayer south to Assumption and east to Rapids Lake MVNWR. Other highlights this morning included an early morning Common Nighthawk hunting before sunrise, a Cliff Swallow colony with 37 occupied nests, a couple Blue-winged Warbler, 2 flight capable recently fledged Lark Sparrow being fed by a parent, 5 Henslow's Sparrow, and a pair of Orchard Oriole. 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] Carver County
Straggling migrant shorebirds continued to move through Carver County the past few days. This was the first weekend of the spring that I did not notice any reports of migrant shorebirds in Illinois or Iowa, so there likely aren't that many more moving north through the area. June 8 Semipalmated Plover 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 White-rumped Sandpiper 3 June 9 Semipalmated Plover 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 White-rumped Sandpiper 3 Peep species 5 Wilson's Phalarope 1 June 10 White-rumped Sandpiper 16 Pectoral Sandpiper 3 June 11 Semipalmated Sandpiper 5 White-rumped Sandpiper 3 Stilt Sandpiper 1 Wilson's Phalarope 2 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] Carver County
With migration drawing to a close for spring 2012, a few shorebirds continue their northward move through Carver County. Coinciding with the end of spring shorebird migration, many fields have dried or are now quickly drying. I have added a few photos to my flickr account of shorebirds I have seen over the past few weeks. If you are interested they are here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27446731@N02/with/7348649598/ I am not that into photography but take pictures with my little point and shoot when the opportunity presents itself. June 3 Semipalmated Plover 2 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Sanderling 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper (initially 8 peeps present until additional 10 flew in. Did not do an exact count as they stayed mainly a bit too distant.) White-rumped Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper 18 Dunlin 1 June 4 Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Semipalmated Sandpiper 4 White-rumped Sandpiper 10 Pectoral Sandpiper 6 (2 of these arriving to a flooded field just before 7am) Wilson's Phalarope 1 June 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 4 White-rumped Sandpiper 17 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 June 7 Semipalmated Plover 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 White-rumped Sandpiper 2 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] Carver County
The daily turnover of good numbers(for this area) of shorebirds continues in Carver County. I have never birded so consistently for shorebirds during the spring season, so this may not be that abnormal.Though the amount of suitable shorebird habitat(still quite a few flooded fields though some have dried to mud) at this time of year is abnormal. It should only be a couple weeks til the first shorebirds(Least Sandpiper) begin to head south. June 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 15 White-rumped Sandpiper 29 Pectoral Sandpiper 4 Dunlin 1 June 2 Semipalmated Plover 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 11 White-rumped Sandpipe 9 Peep species 7 Pectoral Sandpiper 23 Dunlin 1 Wilson's Phalarope 1 female 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] Carver County
Shorebirds have continued to pass through Carver County the past 2 days. May 30 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper ~20 Least Sandpiper ~30 White-rumped Sandpiper ~35 Pectoral Sandpiper ~43 May 31 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper (4 Semipalmated in flooded field with 6 White-rumped, additional peep flock of ~30 containing some Semipalmated but not all identified in separate flooded field) White-rumped Sandpiper 21 Pectoral Sandpiper 57 Red-necked Phalarope 2 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] Carver County
With the 5-7 inches of rain all of Carver County has seen over the past week many farm fields are flooded, and it looks more like it did just after the snowmelt during the spring of 2011. There are ample places for shorebirds to stop(probably too many with several too far from any roads to view). Over the last week I have had decent luck, but by no means have shorebirds been numerous. The best sighting of the week was a 2-3 month old Red Fox kit. He was standing on the side of a road, so I slowed to a stop. He looked at me and preceded to walk out in front of my car and sat down right in front of the car. About a minute later I thought I heard some distant yips(his mom?), and the fox kit slowly trotted off in the direction of the yips. Highlights May 25 American Bittern 1 Black-bellied Plover 1 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Least Sandpiper 4 May 26 Semipalmated Plover 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Franklin's Gull ~100 May 27 (all shorebirds seen in the morning, an evening pass of the same fields turned up only Killdeer) Greater Yellowlegs 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 8 Flock of ~70 Semipalmated and Least Sandpiper+additional 4 Least in separate field White-rumped Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 15 Franklin's Gull ~75 May 29 Semipalmated Plover 1 Willet 4 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 17 White-rumped Sandpiper 12 Baird's Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 4 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] Carver County
While numbers of migrant warbler have been poor in the county, shorebirding in the New Germany area has been pretty good over the past week. I have only been able to manage 12 warbler species since May 17 with the best being 2 male Mourning Warbler at Rapids Lake on Saturday and a female Canada Warbler this morning at Carver Park. The first Willow Flycatcher showed up at Rapids Lake on Sunday, and both Alder and Willow Flycatchers were at Carver Park this morning. On Sunday I found a different location within the Rapids Lake MVNWR with a Henslow's Sparrow, and today there were 3 Henslow's Sparrow at 2 different locations within Carver Park. On May 18 there was a late Snow Goose with a flock of Canada Geese in the New Germany area. Also, on May 18 I finally found a Red-headed Woodpecker in the county after years of birding in the county. He was also in the New Germany area. The only migrant thrush that I found over the last week was a single Gray-cheeked Thrush at Carver Park today. Shorebirds Thursday May 17 Semipalmated Plover 2 Killdeer 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 5 Least Sandpiper ~18 Pectoral Sandpiper 12 Dunlin 7 Stilt Sandpiper 2 Short-billed Dowitcher 1 Friday May 18 Black-bellied Plover 1 Semipalmated Plover 3 Killdeer 8 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 4 Least Sandpiper ~30 Pectoral Sandpiper 15 Dunlin 2 Short-billed Dowitcher 1 Wilson’s Phalarope 1 Saturday May 19 AM Semipalmated Plover 1 Killdeer 3 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper ~20 Pectoral Sandpiper ~35 Dunlin 1 Saturday May 19 PM Black-bellied Plover 1 Semipalmated Plover 4 Killdeer 4 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper 6+ Least Sandpiper 20+ White-rumped Sandpiper 2 Peep species ~25 Pectoral Sandpiper ~35 Sunday May 20 Black-bellied Plover 1 Semipalmated Plover 1 Killdeer 2 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 10 Pectoral Sandpiper 4 Dunlin 2 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 Monday May 21 Killdeer 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Least Sandpiper 3 Dunlin 2 Tuesday May 22 Killdeer 3 Spotted Sandpiper 3 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 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] Carver County
While Carver Park was a bit busier today than it was on Sunday, Rapids Lake seemed quieter.For those wondering about warblers, the lack of migrant warblers seems to be a common theme across portions of the country. During my time in Tennessee in late April and early May, there were plenty of resident warbler but not many migrants. Checking lists from Texas, there seemed to be an influx of neotropical migrants over the Mother's Day weekend with several locations reporting 10-20 warbler species. One location reported 35 Blackburnian and 30 Chestnut-sided Warbler. South Padre Island reported 12 warbler species yesterday. So despite the favorable migrating conditions over much of the U.S. it appears that migrating conditions in Central/South America may not have been as favorable over the past month and some birds are just later. On the other hand, the number of warblers seen in Carver County May 4-6 was unusual and slightly early. Highlights at Carver Park Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Least Flycatcher 6 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 11 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Veery 2 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 Swainson's Thrush 5 Ovenbird 1 Blue-winged Warbler 6 Black-and-White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 38 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 3 Blackpoll Warbler 7 Palm Warbler 2 Wilson's Warbler 2 Indigo Bunting 4 Rapids Lake MVNWR Least Flycatcher 1 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Wood Thrush 1 Blue-winged Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 11 Nashville Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Henslow's Sparrow 1 heard only White-throated Sparrow 1 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] Carver County
Migrants this morning during 2 short walks. Carver Park Blue-headed Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 (1st 5 vireo species day of the year) Swainson's Thrush 1 Black-and-White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 17 Nashville Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Rapids Lake Tennessee Warbler 20 Blackpoll Warbler 5 Palm Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 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] Carver County
A Prothonotary Warbler was back at the 2nd(beaver pond) outlet channel at Rapids Lake MVNWR. I initially heard him, and he eventually came into view. The Henslow's Sparrow was still in the grassland north of the north hunters lot. While last summer the Henslow's Sparrows were further north closer to the neighborhood, so far this year he has stayed closer to the hunters lot just north of the dirt track that briefly heads east/west. Besides Tennessee and resident warbler, other migrant warbler took some work to see. The most unusual birds of the morning were a few late Purple Finch. The arboretum on the other hand was pretty empty with only 16 species found and no obvious migrants. Rapids Lake highlights Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Least Flycatcher 4 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 5 Yellow-throated Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo 7 Philadelphia Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Blue-winged Warbler 4 Black-and-White Warbler 2 Prothonotary Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 30 Nashville Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 7 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Eastern Towhee 1 Lark Sparrow 1 Grasshopper Sparrow 4 Henslow's Spaarrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Purple Finch 3 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] Carver County
I had planned to spend most of the morning at Carver Park, but after 2 hours and short stops at a few places across the park and generally low warbler numbers(besides summer residents) I decided to do a quick rural sweep and a short stop at Rapids Lake. Highlights at Carver Park were Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird(2), Golden-winged Warbler(1), Blue-winged Warbler(4), Tennessee Warbler(6), Nashville Warbler(1), Northern Parula(1), Palm Warbler(1), Yellow-rumped Warbler(1), Black-throated Green Warbler(1), Scarlet Tanager(2), and White-crowned Sparrow. In rural Carver County I found a couple Least Sandpiper and some Purple Martins. Hightlights at Rapids Lake were Blue-winged Warbler(3), Black and White Warbler(1), Tennessee Warbler(15), Nashville Warbler(2), Northern Parula(1), Blackburnian Warbler(1), Yellow-rumped Warbler(6), and Eastern Towhee. On Tuesday May 8 I found 15 warbler species in the county, but it took going to Carver Park, Rapids Lake, and the landscape arboretum to get that many. Other highlights that day were Sora, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, Eastern Towhee(Carver Park), Lincoln's Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow. 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] Carver County post-storm birds at Rapids Lake(16 warbler species)
Beginning a bit past 6 this morning just as the rain ended, I managed 75 species in 4.5 hours at Rapids Lake MVNWR . I covered about 4.25 miles of unique trails and covered an additional 1.75 miles(of the 4.25) twice doubling back along the river. The only count done doubling back was double checking most of the Yellow Warbler count and turning up a Black-crowned Night-Heron. All areas including hunting and non-hunting areas were very active. I also went off trail when birds necessitated. All trails were muddy and at places flooded over. Rapids Lake count Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Wild Turkey 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Green Heron 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Killdeer 1 Caspian Tern 4 Mourning Dove Black-billed Cuckoo 1 heard only Great Horned Owl 1 heard only Barred Owl 1 heard only Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker 1 Least Flycatcher 4 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 5 Yellow-throated Vireo 4 Warbling Vireo 3 Blue Jay American Crow Barn Swallow Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren 8 Sedge Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Eastern Bluebird 2 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 American Robin Gray Catbird 12 Ovenbird 3 Northern Waterthrush 14 Blue-winged Warbler 3 Golden-winged Warbler 1 male Black and White Warbler 4 Tennessee Warbler 25 Nashville Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 7 Cape May Warbler 2 male Northern Parula 3 (2 seen, 1 additional heard only) Magnolia Warbler 3 male Yellow Warbler 28 Palm Warbler 11 Yellow-rumped Warbler 32 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 male Chipping Sparrow 1 Field Sparrow 4 Vesper Sparrow 1 Lark Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 3 (likely an additional 4 that I startled before getting a look at them) Grasshopper Sparrow 3 Henslow's Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow ~20 Harris's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 8 Scarlet Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak 17 (male and female) Indigo Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark 2 Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole 10 (male and female) American Goldfinch 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] Carver County
Select counts this morning from Carver County Carver Park Reserve Common Loon 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 5 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 1 House Wren 6 Sedge Wren 5 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Gray Catbird 6 Ovenbird 3 Blue-winged Warbler 5 Golden-winged Warbler 1 male Black and White Warbler 4 Tennessee Warbler 7 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 11 American Redstart 14 Magnolia Warbler 1 male Yellow Warbler 30 Palm Warbler 16 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 Clay-colored Sparrow 20 (1 building a nest) Field Sparrow 15 Savannah Sparrow 2 Le Conte's Sparrow 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6 Indigo Bunting 1 Bobolink 4 Baltimore Oriole 4 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Least Flycatcher 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 House Wren 3 Marsh Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3 Gray Catbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Black and White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 15 Yellow Warbler 4 Palm Warbler 4 Scarlet Tanager 2 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] Carver County
After missing out on Minnesota birds the last 10 days but enjoying some great birding on and near the Cumberland Plateau of east Tennessee, I was back early this afternoon to bird mainly Rapids Lake. I did check Rice Lake first thing this afternoon and found 1 Wilson's Phalarope, 1 Willet, and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper with Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Rapids Lake MVNWR birds and counts Wood Duck Mallard Great Blue Heron 4 Bald Eagle 1 Killdeer 1 Mourning Dove Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Least Flycatcher 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Blue Jay American Crown Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird 3 Brown Thrasher 1 Ovenbird 1 Blue-winged Warbler 6 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 7 American Redstart 4 Yellow Warbler 22 (mainly male) Palm Warbler 4 Pine Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Lark Sparrow 2 Grasshopper Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow ~75 Harris's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak 20 (all malle) Indigo Bunting 2 Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole 1 male Baltimore Oriole 14(all male) American Goldfinch 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] Carver County
Arrivals this morning were Blue-headed Vireo and House Wren at Rapids Lake MVNWR, Red-necked Grebe at Assumption Lake, and Gray Catbird at Rice Lake. 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] Carver County
Species were pretty much what one would expect across Carver County this morning. There were good numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and White-throated Sparrow at Rapids Lake MVNWR. Yellow-rumped were also seen at Rice Lake, Maria Lake, and Lake Waconia. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were active again at Rapids Lake with 5. One of these was drumming on a metal sign. A 2nd often likes to drum on a different metal sign.A 6th Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was at Maria Lake. A Lark Sparrow was right on time singing from a preferred tree at Rapids Lake MVNWR arriving 1 day earlier than spring 2011 and the same date as spring 2010. 2 repeated counts of yellowlegs species totaled 306 and 303 birds, about 80% Lesser to 20% Greater, at Rice Lake. Today was probably one of the last days to have such waterfowl diversity. There were 21 waterfowl species across the county. Species from most to least numerous: American Coot, Ruddy Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Canada Goose, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Merganser, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Northen Pintail, Canvasback, Redhead, and Common Loon. 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] Carver County
Highlights this morning from Carver County Carver Park Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (western male V. c. lutescens) Yellow-rumped Warbler 13 Fox Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 7 Rice Lake Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs Dunlin 7 (after not finding any yesterday) Rapids Lake MVNWR Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 Brown Thrasher 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 63+ Eastern Towhee 1 singing male White-throated Sparrow 21+ 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] Rice Lake location
Sorry for the delay. Rice Lake is located along Flying Cloud Dr. in both Carver and Hennepin County in the Upgrala Unit of the Minnesota Valley NWR. Access to the north and west side of the lake is from a dirt pulloff along Flying Cloud Dr. and access to the far east side of the lake is from a smaller pulloff east of there. The east pulloff is a smaller area only in Hennepin County. Today was the first day this year that I have checked that particular pulloff and there were some Yellowlegs in that area(flew in from the west). There is a parking area along the river of this unit but access into the unit and to the south side of the lake is off limits due to private property. If you wait long enough, most of the time birds will be in both counties. I plan on talking to somebody at the Rapids Lake visitors center tomorrow to see if access to Grass Lake(along Flying Cloud Dr east of Rice Lake) is possible. I don't think it is. Sorry for the confusion. Besides the Rice Lake towards Wright County, there is another Rice Lake northeast of Norwood-Young America. There aren't that many lakes in Carver County. You'd think they could come up with a unique name for these. 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] Carver County shorebirds this morning
Normally I take a break from birding on Mondays, but William Marengo's post of Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits at Rice Lake yesterday evening got me out again today. Regarding yesterday's birds, I suspect that since Bill mentioned 2 flocks of greater than 300 birds(though he only had time to identify 1 flock) that 1 of those flocks arrived to the lake some time in the afternoon. This morning started off a bit more quietly with only ~100 shorebirds all very close to shore. In time that number more than doubled as birds flew in from the east. They flew in low, so the likely either came from the far east side of Rice Lake or a neighboring lake. Thanks to John Hockema for pointing out a Marbled Godwit amongst the many Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Other birds seen included a Baird's Sandpiper(for a time the closest bird to shore before he flew west), 6 Dunlin, and 2 Long-billed Dowitcher. 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] Carver County
I covered a bit less of an area at Rapids Lake MVNWR than I normally do, not covering the immediate west shore of Rapids Lake and not going north of Carver Rapids along the river. Select count- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Eastern Phoebe 2 Barn Swallow 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Hermit Thrush 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 18 Field Sparrow 5 Vesper Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 2 migrants (not anywhere near water) White-throated Sparrow 4 Harris's Sparrow 1 (not quite full breeding plumage) White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 3 Eastern Meadowlark 4 Rice Lake was active again today. The rain seemed to help as some previously favorable distant areas for shorebirds now have deeper water. Besides shorebirds there were Blue and Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Great Egret, Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gull, and Belted Kingfisher. Of shorebirds only Dunlin totals are an exact count. Totals of other birds are estimates of those identified as birds rarely stayed still for long. Total shorebird count was 324 made when group stayed relatively still including distant birds. Greater Yellowlegs 50 Lesser Yellowlegs 150 Pectoral Sandpiper 50 Dunlin 20 (some breeding plumage, some gaining breeding plumage) 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] Carver County this week
This past week has seen quite the surge in Yellow-rumped Warbler numbers. Most Yellow-rumped were seen in groups of 2-5 with the largest flocks of 10-15 birds. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary this week with the most unusual bird being a Rough-legged Hawk south of Norwood this morning. Select counts April 10 Rapids Lake MVNWR Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9 Hermit Thrush 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 40 (scattered mainly along the river and west of Rapids Lake) American Tree Sparrow 3 Field Sparrow 7 Vesper Sparrow 3 Savannah Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 6 Eastern Meadowlark 8 (wondering if 4 of these were young from previous years as 4 were just feeding in the sand right below one that sang normally from its territory just above them) Purple Finch 2 April 12 Rapids Lake MVNWR Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12 Hermit Thrush 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 48 (more west of lake and south of visitors center than along the river compared to the 10th) Field Sparrow 7 Vesper Sparrow 1 Eastern Meadowlark 3 Purple Finch 2 (in the same tree as the 10th) 16 waterfowl species across rural Carver County including 12 Common Merganser on Maria Lake and 40 Red-breasted Merganser on Lake Waconia Rice Lake 3 Greater Yellowlegs (few other distant probable yellowleg species) ~350 Pectoral Sandpiper (on April 10 there were no shorebirds and very few ducks, so this flock of Pectoral was likely a new flock compared to those seen the previous weekend) Bonaparte's Gull 8 April 14 Carver Park Common Loon 1 Double-crested Cormorant 60 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 1 Osprey 3 Sandhill Crane 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Eastern Phoebe 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 23 Hermit Thrush 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 45 American Tree Sparrow 1 Chipping Sparrow 5 Field Sparrow 5 Swamp Sparrow 12 White-throated Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 13 Eastern Meadowlark 1 Lake Waconia Red-breasted Merganser 19 Common Loon 1 Horned Grebe 1 (possibly more as there were several more grebe-sized birds further back from the one) American Coot (large rafts all week) New Germany area Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 2 Blue-winged Teal 50+ Green-winged Teal 10 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Assumption Lake Brown Thrasher 1 Rice Lake Greater Yellowlegs 30+ Lesser Yellowlegs 50+ Pectoral Sandpiper (few mixed in with a mainly Lesser Yellowlegs flock, additionally ~75 shorebirds too far to positively ID of likely Yellowlegs and Pectoral species based only on size/shape) Bonaparte's Gull 1 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] Carver County
This was the first weekend since February that I did not have any new arrivals. Not too much has changed besides the still more than 200 Pectoral Sandpiper and more than 50 Greater Yellowlegs at Rice Lake(3 Lesser and a Killdeer as well). The only other shorebirds found in the county besides Killdeer were 2 Greater Yellowlegs in the New Germany area. Fox Sparrows have mainly moved on north with only a couple found today at Rapids Lake and none found at Carver Park yesterday. 5 nest stands in the area are now occupied by Osprey. Sat. April 7 select Carver Park count Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12 Hermit Thrush 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 20 Field Sparrow 4 Swamp Sparrow 8 Sun. April 8 select Rapids Lake count Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Hermit Thrush 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 17 Field Sparrow 5 Vesper Sparrow 2 Fox Sparrow 2 Swamp Sparrow 1 Eastern Meadowlark 7(4 of these flew in from the west chasing each other in circles over 3 singing on territories.) 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] Carver County
I managed 65 species this morning at a few locations across the county. The only new bird for the year was a couple of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at Rapids Lake MVNWR. There were still 17 waterfowl species in the area, but they were generally in small numbers. My first non-overwintering Swamp Sparrow of the year was at Assumption Lake, and 2 more Field Sparrows had joined the 1 at Rapids Lake MVNWR. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-rumped Warbler were all seen in good numbers both Tuesday and today. Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
Re: [mou-net] Inquiry (no sightings)
When I first began posting to MOU, my posting style was based on listserves out of state. Year round, I read(though am not subscribed to) lists from Arizona/Texas/Florida/Tennessee/Illinois/Iowa/North Dakota/Manitoba/Sasketchewan and use/check Ebird just to keep track of what is being reported across the country and to keep track of migration. When I first began posting, I always liked reading posts that gave details about every species being seen even the common birds. I am less interested in the rare species being reported, because they are just that, rare, and atypical of what is in the area. I also don't go out searching for rare birds when they are posted very often. When I do, I keep my expectations of actually finding the rare bird quite low. When I first began posting I suspected that people didn't report their sightings, because they didn't want their particular birding spot overrun with other birders. This suspicion was likely untrue, but it is what I thought years ago. > Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 07:59:32 -0500 > From: alschirmac...@live.com > Subject: [mou-net] Inquiry (no sightings) > To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU > > I subscribe both to MOU & Wisbirdn (former birding home, prior to 2004). > > I wonder why there are substantially less posts on MOU? > > Don't hear me wrongly, this is not a criticism, more is not necessarily > better. > > At one point I was informed that friendliness & criticism was an issue - but > over the years, having engaged with many members, and having served on the > board, find this is perception more than reality. > > Is it scope of topic? More members? More newcomers? History of rarity & > scientific inquiry, rather than sharing normal observations? > > Either way, enjoy & am thankful for both. > > Al Schirmacher > Princeton, MN > > Sent from my iPhone > > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html 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] Carver County
Highlights this morning across Carver County Rapids Lake MVNWR American Woodcock 1 Bonaparte's Gull (mixed Ring-billed and Bonaparte's flock departing lake) Barred Owl 2 (1 seen, 1 heard only) Eastern Phoebe 2 Tree Swallow 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Hermit Thrush 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Field Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 28+(another surge of these into the area) Harris's Sparrow 1 Maria Lake Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Coot, Bonaparte's Gull, 10 Tree Swallow, and 2 Rusty Blackbird Assumption Lake Gadwall, Shoveler, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Northern Harrier, and Bonaparte's Gull Rice Lake (Carver Cty. portion) Greater Yellowlegs(increase of these), Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, and Golden-crowned Kinglet 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] Carver County
Thanks to Janice Dunlap's post about the mudflats along Flying Cloud Dr in the Minnesota River Valley, I made a stop there both yesterday and today. Both days there were Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Pectoral Sandpiper on the mudflats of Rice Lake. Today I may have picked out a distant Dunlin, but that very low confidence observation may have been wishful thinking on my part in the poor lighting as well as the even lower confidence Baird's. Otherwise there were Blue and Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Ring-billed, and Bonaparte's Gull. Rice Lake is in both Hennepin and Carver County. Initially everything was on the Carver side of the lake, but some did fly to the Hennepin side by the time I left. Other parts of the county turned up Common and Red-breasted Merganser on Lake Waconia and Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Carver Park. One of the Carver Park Barred Owls finally showed himself to me for the first time this year. 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] Carver County
For the most part birds this morning were pretty typical for an early spring day. The most unusual bird of the day was a Red-shouldered Hawk near the shore of Lake Waconia. Other arrivals today included 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2 Hermit Thrush, 1 Vesper Sparrow at Rapids Lake MVNWR, and a Common Loon on Lake Waconia. Other birds at Rapids Lake MVNWR included 6 Tree Swallow, 1 Winter Wren, and 5 Golden-crowned Kinglet. The steady decline of waterfowl at Rapids Lake continues. The only waterfowl on the lake were a couple Canada Geese, 2 Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, and Wood Duck. Lake Waconia had a nice surge of mainly Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, and Coot(smaller number of other species as well) last week through Sunday. As of Tuesday most everything on the lake had departed. There wasn't much difference today with only a small number of coot and some Pied-billed Grebe found in addition to the loon. Other rural lakes still have a nice variety but numbers are declining. Best waterfowl species of the day were a couple Red-breasted Merganser on Maria Lake and a Horned Grebe on Assumption Lake. 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] Carver County Swallow(2 species)
What a difference a year makes. Deep snow and thick ice cover at this time last year to the arrival of swallows to the area about 20-30 days early this year. 2 swallow species arrived today along the west bank of the Minnesota River at Rapids Lake MVNWR. 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow and 1 Tree Swallow were meandering north.The song of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow was what initially got me to look to the sky. Since I identified the song of the Rough-winged first, this marks the first year that Tree Swallows have not been the 1st identified swallow. Full Rapids Lake MVNWR count Canada Goose ~25(didn't pay too much attention to these) Trumpeter Swan 3 Wood Duck 14 Mallard Blue-winged Teal 2 Northern Shoveler 3 Redhead ~20 Ring-necked Duck ~200 Common Merganser 23 Wild Turkey Pied-billed Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Bald Eagle 5 (2nd morning in a row that a young Bald Eagle failed at his attempt to catch a duck) Sandhill Crane 1 Killdeer 2 Ring-billed Gull 3 Mourning Dove 2 Great Horned Owl 1 heard only Belted Kingfisher 1 (compared to the arrival of other species this year, this is relatively late) Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker 4 Eastern Phoebe 2 (1 initially singing from farmhouse but flew about 100 yards south, 2nd about 1/4 mile south of that) Blue Jay American Crow Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Tree Swallow 1 Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 (different locations than the overwintering birds so likely recent arrivals) Eastern Bluebird 1 American Robin American Tree Sparrow 5 Fox Sparrow 15 (a couple more probably heard) Song Sparrow 25+ Harris's Sparrow 1 (same bird as yesterday) Dark-eyed Junco 7 Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark 1 Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird North of Assumption on the east side of Cty. Rd. 33, 2 flocks totaling ~195 Greater White-fronted Geese flew in from the northwest and landed in a field. 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] Carver County Phoebe, Harris's Sparrow and bugs
Coinciding with the first gnats, flies, and mosquito an Eastern Phoebe was singing from a treetop along the east shore of Rapids Lake. Other arrivals to the area today were Canvasback at both Rapids Lake and Assumption Lake, a single Blue-winged Teal at Rapids Lake, many American Coot at Rapids Lake, 3 Great Blue Heron flying north, and a Harris's Sparrow(about a month earlier than my previous earliest) feeding below the Rapids Lake visitor's center feeders. There were 20+ Fox Sparrow scattered at Rapids Lake MVNWR as well as 35+ Song Sparrow. The local Great Horned Owl also showed himself this morning at Rapids Lake. 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] Carver County
There wasn't much movement this morning with only 1 migrating flock of 30 Canada Geese.The only other geese were just the Canada that had stoped at any ponds or lakes in the area. Other waterfowl today include Trumpeter Swan, 12 Tundra Swan taking off from open water of Rapids Lake early this morning calling, Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, and Common Merganser. A Herring Gull was at Assumption Lake and more Ring-billed were in the area. The Yellow-rumped Warbler are still around Rapids Lake with 3 found today. Other arrivals today included 4 Fox Sparrow atop the bluff at Rapids Lake MVNWR, 5 singing Eastern Meadowlark also at Rapids Lake, and 11 Brewer's Blackbird along Salem Ave. 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] Carver County
Some birds today in Carver County included 275 Greater White-fronted Geese(170 heading west over Salem Ave, 95 heading west over Rapids Lake MVNWR, 10 on ice of Assumption Lake), 1 Ross's Goose at Assumption Lake, 1 Sandhill Crane at Rapids Lake, and 2 Western Meadowlarks along Salem Ave. 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] Carver County geese galore, Canada's outnumbered
I'm sure there have been as many Greater White-fronted and Snow Geese moving through Carver County in past years(at least the occasional year), but this is the first day that Canada Geese have been outnumbered by other goose species for me. I counted a total of 771 Greater White-fronted Geese all flying low over or near Rapids Lake. Flocks of 300(conservative estimate as focus was on counting Snow Geese in the flock), 85,75,56,50,48,44,36,32,24,19, and 2 flew over in a 2 hour period. 4 flocks flew in from the northeast and turned west when they hit the north end of Rapids Lake, 3 flocks flew in from the east, and 5 flocks flew in from the southeast. The 771 total is about 4 times as many as I had ever seen(added together) in the county before today. I counted a total of 413 Snow Geese at both Assumption Lake and Rapids Lake MVNWR. A flock of 250(many blue phase) that was initially in fields near Assumption Lake eventually joined Canada's on the ice of the lake. A flock of 150 was with the greater than 300 Greater White-fronted Goose flock, and 13 were with the flock of 50 Greater White-fronted Geese. I saw an estimated total of 1100 Canada Geese. Other birds at Rapids Lake MVNWR(lake still completely ice-covered) Cackling Goose 2 Trumpeter Swan 5 Wood Duck 32 Gadwall 14 American Wigeon 2 Mallard 100 Northern Shoveler 4 Ring-necked Duck 8 Lesser Scaup 25 Bufflehead 2 Common Goldeneye 5 Hooded Merganser 12 Common Merganser 3 Killdeer 5 Eastern Bluebird 4 Red-winged Blackbird 180 Common Grackle 15 At Assumption Lake(completely ice-covered) Northern Pintail 11 Gadwall 11 Killdeer 3 Red-winged Blackbird 7 Common Grackle 4 Yesterday at Rapids Lake MVNWR 2 small flocks totaling 47 Greater White-fronted Geese flew over. Also of note were 95 Wood Duck resting on a sand bank of the Minnesota River. 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] Carver County
Despite the unfavorable wind direction there was some blackbird movement this morning at Rapids Lake MVNWR. Some birds seen include: Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swan, Wood Duck(6), Gadwall(11), Common Goldeneye(28), Hooded Merganser(7), Common Merganser(1), Bald Eagle(12), Northern Flicker(4), Brown Creeper(3), American Robin(11), Eastern Towhee(singing from tree on north side of Rapids Lake), Red-winged Blackbird(~160 in 3 flocks), and Rusty Blackbird (~90 in 2 flocks +2 at visitor's center feeders). 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] Carver County American Woodcock and other arrivals
I startled an American Woodcock this morning along the western shore of Rapids Lake. In addition to other migrants, I refound 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler. The normally reliable overwintering Swamp Sparrow was not cooperative. I last saw him on March 1. Also on March 1, I saw my FOY Song Sparrow along the shore of Rapids Lake and likely refound a Golden-crowned Kinglet. All waterfowl seen today were either flyovers or in the Minnesota River. Many ducks were just landing on the river when I was there. March 6 Rapids Lake MVNWR count Cackling Goose 1 (flyover calling) Canada Goose 235 (multiple flocks flying all directions, some flocks flying in circles) Trumpeter Swan 13 Wood Duck 1 Mallard 85 (2/3 in Minnesota River near Rapids Lake, additional flock of ~40 unidentified smaller ducks seen flying, ~10 distant small ducks in the river) Northern Pintail 1 (male flyover) Ring-necked Duck 4 Common Goldeneye 20 Hooded Merganser 21 (15 male, 6 female) Wild Turkey many Bald Eagle 4 (One adult dove at a Hooded Merganser on the Minnesota River, but the merganser dove underwater before the eagle could catch it.) Cooper's Hawk 1 (male) American Woodcock 1 Ring-billed Gull 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Pilieated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark 4 Black-capped Chickadee 15 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Eastern Bluebird 1 American Robin 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 American Tree Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 1 (decrease in these and Tree Sparrows compared to just a few days ago) Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird 48 (flock of ~40, 5, and 3) Rusty Blackbird 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 American Goldfinch 3 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] Carver County
Highlights this morning at Rapids Lake MVNWR were some repeats and a few recent arrivals. The male Northern Harrier soared over Rapids Lake. The Swamp Sparrow continued in his winter home(area has had flowing water all winter with water continuously seeping out of the bluff). 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler were further north than they have been in previous weeks along the lake shore. 1 of these was a male transitioning to breeding plumage. Arrivals included a few Horned Larks, 4 Eastern Bluebird, and a Brown-headed Cowbird. The only difference in rural birds was the arrival of several Horned Larks after a 2 month absence. 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] Carver County
While it was pretty quiet along the shore of Rapids Lake this morning, I did relocate the Swamp Sparrow from last week. I also found(relocated?) 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler.These are likely some of those that I found last week. They were feeding on winter buds of a Cottonwood. Also near the lake was a Golden-crowned Kinglet. He was in the same area where there were 2 in early January, so it could be a repeat winter resident. With no snow covering the grassland nearby, a male Northern Harrier was hovering just above the ground in search of a meal. He did dive onto the ground once, but he almost immediately returned to the air without a meal. 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] Carver County Yellow-rumped Warbler
As I was walking along the western shore of Rapids Lake, I heard the familiar chip of a Yellow-rumped Warbler coming from a Cedar. I spished once, and 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler appeared from several neighboring Cedar. They flew around me, chipping ocassionally, and then moved in and out of Cedar, Cottonwood, and Oak until I lost sight of them. There were no other birds near the warbler at the time. Other highlights from the western shore of Rapids Lake were 4 Purple Finch, a curious Swamp Sparrow as interested in me as I was in him from atop a dead reed(also had a possible Song Sparrow chip and dive below some reeds near this area), and a Merlin that dove after a Chickadee. A quick drive through the country turned up 3 American Kestrel. 2 of these are likely recent arrivals. 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] Some notes from 2011 birding in Carver County
April 30 was the date with the most FOY species(19) followed by March 17 and May 10(10) Personal best 21 shorebird species for the year Very few Bonaparte's Gull seen in the fall Very few terns seen in the fall and 0 Black Terns seen all year 0 Yellow-billed Cuckoo seen/heard all year and Black-billed only seen during spring/early summer Both Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl were much harder to come by this fall than usual 1 Common Nighthawk seen all year(do not spend much time birding at the right time of day for these) Good number of Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher seen this year Personal best number of Blue-headed and Philadelphia Vireo seen this year during both the spring and fall season Lowest number of fall Golden-crowned Kinglets since 2008, 41% of 2010 fall total and 34% of 2009 fall total(Ruby-crowned numbers stable, 103% and 101%) Poor Swainson's Thrush numbers this fall(I did read a post from somebody in Illinois that had hundreds of Swainson's Thrush in the Chicago area before I had even seen one this fall, so most may have bypassed the area.) After never seeing an Eastern Towhee in Carver County prior to the year, I saw 4 in the spring and 5 in the fall Personal best fall number of Lincoln's, Harris's, and White-crowned Sparrow 1 Yellow-headed Blackbird seen all year(4 breeding areas were either flooded or had very high water all spring and early summer) 0 Redpolls and 1 Pine Siskin all year Great spring and fall for warbler with a few exceptions The following is the percentage of each warbler species seen during 2011 comparing the number of each individual species to the number seen in 2010. Yellow, Redstart, and Yellowthroat are excluded, as I do not always individually count these species. Spring Blue-winged 80.59% Golden-winged 650% Tennessee 207.83% Orange-crowned 625% Nashville 328.57% Northern Parula 233.33% Chestnut-sided 5100% Magnolia 1933% Cape May 1400% Yellow-rumped 197.7% Black-throated Green 71.43% Blackburnian 1366% Pine 300% Palm 547.83% Bay-breasted saw 15 in 2011 but did not see any during the spring of 2010 Blackpoll 1416% Cerulean 33.33% Black and White 670% Prothonotary 20% Ovenbird 74.19% Northern Waterthrush 113.63% Connecticut saw 2 in 2011 but did not see any during the spring of 2010 Mourning 366.67% Wilson's 3800% Canada 700% Fall Blue-winged 154.54% Golden-winged 250% Tennessee 80.58% Orange-crowned 131.11% Nashville 119.71% Northern Parula saw 3 in 2011 but did not see any during the fall of 2010 Chestnut-sided 247.06% Magnolia 128% Cape May 100% Yellow-rumped 87.09% Black-throated Green 266.66% Blackburnian 316.66% Pine 300% Palm 71.43% Bay-breasted 150% Blackpoll 160% Cerulean 0% Black and White 171.43% Prothonotary 0% Ovenbird 76.19% Northern Waterthrush 72.22% Connecticut saw 1 in 2011 but did not see any during the fall of 2010 Mourning 366.67% Wilson's 119.15% Canada 253.33% 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] Carver County
The past few days have had your typical late fall species here in Carver County. I haven't found many lingering Kinglets or Yellow-rumped Warbler like I normally do this time of year. Golden-crowned Kinglets are significantly less numerous than the past 2 falls this year. I also have spent less time walking trails the past week or 2 than I have in past years. Instead I have been checking the New Germany area for late lingering shorebirds and other rural areas for blackbird flocks. I never realized the number of Brewer's Blackbird(and other blackbirds for that matter) that passed through the county in the fall until last year and wanted to make a concerted effort to track blackbird. While there was little to no blackbird movement across the county over the weekend, there was significant movement today.2 mixed Red-winged/Grackle/at least 1 Rusty flocks were moving north, and 1 mixed flock was moving south over Carver Park this morning. A small Rusty Blackbird flock was in the New Germany area, and a very large flock of mainly Brewer's Blackbird was in Assumption. I had a difficult time estimating the flock in Assumption as I was able to count around 400 Brewer's Blackbirds as they cautiously watched me. The flock took off and then kept moving from field to field going in a bit of a circle. My very rough estimate of the flock was in the 1000-1500 range, but there were probably more. Of the birds I id'd, ~95% were Brewer's Blackbird with some Red-winged mixed in. Watching the birds in flight, it looked like mainly Brewer's with very few Red-winged picked out. I did find 1 Lapland Longspur in the bunch while they were on the ground. Also odd in the group was a male Brewer's Blackbird with white wing-ends(1/4 of each wing end white). He had the sheen of a male Brewer's, so all I can guess is that he has a genetic abnormality that gives him the white wings. On Saturday there were 8 Common Loons and 2 Red-necked Grebes on Lake Waconia with another surge of Ring-billed Gulls. Sunday I only found 3 Common Loons on the lake, and today I didn't find any(also very few gulls today). I'll give it more time, but by this time last year, most of the Loons had moved through the area. The Black-bellied Plover either left Chevalle wetlands sometime late Sunday or has done a good job of hiding himself the last 2 days. Otherwise there was a male Northern Harrier hunting over a rural meadow on Saturday and a lone Snow Bunting at Lake Waconia today. New Germany area birds Sat. Oct. 29 Least Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 6 Wilson's Snipe 3 American Pipit several flying around Sun. Oct. 30 Great Blue Heron 1 Killdeer 8 Least Sandpiper 2 (I initially thought these were Semipalmated due to dark legs, but head/neck markings weren't right so the legs must have been mud-covered) Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Long-billed Dowitcher 5 Wilson's Snipe 1 American Pipit still several flying around Tues. Nov. 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Killdeer 4 Dunlin 1 Wilson's Snipe 14 American Pipit 13 cooperative at last Rusty Blackbird 36(also had a mixed Red-winged/other flock that may have had some Brewer's/Rusty mixed in but lighting/distance wasn't great) 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] Carver County Great Black-backed Gull
I saw a 2nd winter Great Black-backed Gull from the southwest shore of Lake Waconia this morning. This is the first North American Great Black-backed Gull I have seen, and the first I have seen side by side with ducks and other gulls which really brings out the size difference.When I left the Great Black-backed Gull had moved towards the western shore to the north where houses are lining the shore. I am not exactly sure how to get to this particular neighborhood. I did not see a single loon on the lake, as there has still been no significant loon, grebe, or duck movement into the area. Otherwise the Black-bellied Plover was still at Chevalle neighborhood wetlands in Chaska, as he has been the past few days. There were a total of ~230 Common Grackle in multiple flocks flying over Rapids Lake MVNWR and a mixed flock of Brewer's Blackbird(counted 284 individual birds, additional 100+estimate) and Red-winged Blackbird(300+) along Cty. Rd. 33. 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] Carver County
While I haven’t posted over the past 10 days partially due to time and partially due to the ever decreasing variety, birds seen have been pretty much what one would expect this time of year. Select counts Sat. Oct. 15 Lake Waconia Northern Shoveler 2 Green-winged Teal 1 Redhead 74 Lesser Scaup 2 Pied-billed Grebe 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Carver Park Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8 Hermit Thrush 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 13 Field Sparrow 2 Fox Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 9 Harris’s Sparrow 1 Sun. Oct. 16 Lake Waconia Gadwall 2 Redhead 83 Ruddy Duck 4 Common Loon 1 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Carver Park American Wigeon 11 Northern Shoveler 27 Hooded Merganser 4 Double-crested Cormorant 25 Eastern Phoebe 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9 Hermit Thrush 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Chipping Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 8 Harris’s Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 30 Tues. Oct. 18 Lake Waconia Gadwall 16 Canvasback 1 Redhead 2 Carver Park Trumpeter Swan 11 American Wigeon 18 Green-winged Teal 20 Hooded Merganser 2 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Eastern Towhee 2 American Tree Sparrow 2 Fox Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 19 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Rural Carver County Great Blue Heron 1 Salem Ave. American Pipit 4 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 1 Thurs. Oct. 20 Lake Waconia Canvasback 2 Redhead 100+ Lesser Scaup 4 American Coot 400+ Carver Park American Wigeon 22 Northern Shoveler 80 Green-winged Teal 10 Hooded Merganser 6 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Hermit Thrush 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 American Tree Sparrow 11 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 6 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Purple Finch 4 Sat. Oct. 22 Lake Waconia Canvasback 4 Lesser Scaup 5 Redhead, Shoveler, and Coot uncounted White-throated Sparrow 2 Salem Ave. Killdeer 1 Lapland Longspur 3 Rusty Blackbird 2 Brewer’s Blackbird 200+ Savannah Sparrow 4 Harris’s Sparrow 1 Rapids Lake MVNWR Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 American Tree Sparrow 6 Fox Sparrow 32 Song Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 10 Harris’s Sparrow 3 Sun. Oct. 23 Lake Waconia Ruddy Duck 24 Carver Park Gadwall 4 Northern Shoveler 1 Ring-necked Duck 7 Brown Creeper 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Fox Sparrow 9 White-throated Sparrow 5 Mon. Oct. 24 Chevalle neighborhood wetlands(Chaska) Black-bellied Plover 1 Killdeer 1 Tues. Oct. 25 Lake Waconia (quietest day on the lake over the past 2 weeks with fewer Ring-billed Gulls and fewer Coot) Wood Duck 3 Redhead 1 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Common Loon 1 Herring Gull 1 Carver Park (only covered a couple of spots and ½- ¾ of trails but was definitely the quietest day since early April) Canada Goose 120 Wood Duck 2 Gadwall 5 American Wigeon 13 Northern Shoveler 15 Lesser Scaup 1 Hooded Merganser 7 Fox Sparrow 11 White-throated Sparrow 4 Purple Finch 1 New Germany area Killdeer 5 Long-billed Dowitcher 5 Tilled fields along Cty. Rd. 51 2250+ Red-winged Blackbird 250+ Brewer’s Blackbird 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] Carver County
It was another active morning at Carver Park with an influx of more Junco into the area overnight.There was a Common Loon on Lake Waconia, but besides Coot and Ring-billed Gull there wasn't much else. Carver Park migrants American Wigeon 7 Hooded Merganser 4 Pied-billed Grebe 3 Turkey Vulture 16 circling low Northern Flicker 6 Eastern Phoebe 1 American Crow 175+ congregated on and along Grimm Rd. Brown Creeper 2 House Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 26 Hermit Thrush 6 Gray Catbird 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 (possibly a 2nd seen in poor lighting) Orange-crowned Warbler 12 (some very tame and inquisitive including 3 perched on a fence in a row looking at me and 2 in a leafless bramble within 3-4 feet) Nashville Warbler 4 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 23 Chipping Sparrow 1 Field Sparrow 2 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 5 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 35+ White-crowned Sparrow 4 Dark-eyed Junco 250+ Purple Finch 2 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] Carver County
I enjoyed another birdy morning across the county. This fall weather is making up for some those rainy days I spent birding this past spring. Carver Park migrants Double-crested Cormorant 49 Osprey 1 (only raptor seen across the county today besides a roadkill Red-tailed Hawk) Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Brown Creeper 2 House Wren 2 Winter Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20 Hermit Thrush 4 Gray Catbird 2 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 8 (as many as 11) Common Yellowthroat 1 Palm Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 36 Eastern Towhee 1 female(previous 2 Towhee this fall were male) Field Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 6 Lincoln's Sparrow 3 Swamp Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow ~25 Harris's Sparrow 3 (with flock of Junco, White-throated, 2 White-crowned Sparrow, and Towhee) White-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco 85+ Purple Finch 3 Lake Waconia Redhead 9 Ruddy Duck 1 Red-necked Grebe 1 American Coot 1200 (conservative estimate) Bonaparte's Gull 2 Franklin's Gull 18 Ring-billed Gull 100+ New Germany Area Killdeer 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 24 Pectoral Sandpiper 6 Long-billed Dowitcher 1 Tree Swallow ~170 Common Grackle ~50 Assumption Lake American Wigeon 2 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Sedge Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird ~100 mainly female 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] Carver County
Birds this week in the county Tuesday Oct. 4 Carver Park Great Blue Heron 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 American Woodcock 2 Eastern Phoebe 2 Brown Creeper 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7 Hermit Thrush 3 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 9 Fox Sparrow 3 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 25 Harris's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 7 Dark-eyed Junco 20 Lake Waconia American Coot 100 Franklin's Gull 10 Ring-billed Gull ~60 Unidentified Gull ~300 Rural Carver County Broad-winged Hawk 3 American Kestrel 1 Tree Swallow ~150 New Germany area Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 3 Osprey 1 American Golden Plover 1 Killdeer ~40 Lesser Yellowlegs 13 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Stilt Sandpiper 1 Thurs. Oct. 6 Landscape Arboretum Franklin's Gull 6 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Brown Creeper 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Hermit Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 3 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 9 Chipping Sparrow 4 Field Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 5 Song Sparrow 8 Lincoln's Sparrow 7 Swamp Sparrow 7 White-throated Sparrow 28 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Rapids Lake MVNWR Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 Gray Catbird 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Chipping Sparrow 1 Field Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 6 Song Sparrow 6 Lincoln's Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 35 Harris's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Sat. Oct. 8 Rapids Lake MVNWR House Wren 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Fox Sparrow 10 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 3 Indigo Bunting 1 Landscape Arboretum Eastern Phoebe 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Sun. Oct. 9 Carver Park Trumpeter Swan family took a couple practice flights Pied-billed Grebe 3 Double-crested Cormorant 48 Great Egret 7 Osprey 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Killdeer 5 Ring-billed Gull 9 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Northern Flicker 3 Eastern Phoebe 2 House Wren 2 Sedge Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 8 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 17 Hermit Thrush 3 Gray Catbird 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 3 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 33 Eastern Towhee 1 Field Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 5 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow ~50 Harris's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco ~60 Red-winged Blackbird ~30 Common Grackle 490 (roosted in forest edge, counted as they began streaming southeast) 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] Carver County
Migrants the past few days in the area Thurs. morning before the wind really picked up Carver Park House Wren 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 White-throated Sparrow ~10 Dark-eyed Junco 16 Indigo Bunting 1 Landscape Arboretum (wind was getting too strong to see much by this point) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 House Wren 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 White-throated Sparrow ~20 Fri. mid-afternoon Arboretum Blue-headed Vireo 1 House Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Hermit Thrush 1 Black and White Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 2 Mourning Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Indigo Bunting 1 Sat. morning Arboretum Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Hermit Thrush 2 Gray Catbird 2 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 14 Chipping Sparrow 3 Nelson's Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow ~10 Lincoln's Sparrow 5 Swamp Sparrow 7 White-throated Sparrow ~25 Carver Park (only a small area) Turkey Vulture 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Brown Creeper 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Field Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 5 White-crowned Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed Junco ~30 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] Carver County
Migrants this morning at the Landscape Arboretum, Lake Waconia, and Carver Park Arboretum Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Eastern Phoebe 5 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 6 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Gray Catbird 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 6 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 2 Magnolia Warbler 3 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 16 Eastern Towhee 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 20 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 3 Lake Waconia Franklin's Gull 165 Ring-billed Gull 38 Carver Park Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Brown Creeper 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Gray Catbird 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 adult Yellow-rumped Warbler 30 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 4 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] Carver County
Migrants this morning at Carver Park/Lake Waconia and this afternoon at the Landscape Arboretum Carver Park Broad-winged Hawk 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Warbling Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 House Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8 Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Nashville Warbler 12 Common Yellowthroat 3 Magnolia Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Chipping Sparrow 2 Clay-colored Sparrow 2 Field Sparrow 4 Fox Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 4 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 10 White-crowned Sparrow 4 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Lake Waconia Franklin's Gull 600-800 including many 1st winter Arboretum Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 11 American Redstart 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 male Indigo Bunting 4 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] Carver County
Considering the date I had another wonderfully birdy morning at the Landscape Arboretum for 3 hours and then a quick 45 minute 1/2 mile stop at Carver Park. Outside of 3 waves at the arboretum it was pretty quiet. Much of the activity at the arboretum was in places I did not have time to get to yesterday. I also noticed my first migrant flock of Blue Jays for the fall traveling with some Robins, and a Cooper's Hawk didn't stand a chance with a couple dozen crows harassing it. Unfortunately the days of warbler and vireo variety are numbered. Though on Thursday there were still 11 warbler and 3 vireo species reported in the Winnepeg, Manitoba area, so there are still some stragglers making their way south. Arboretum select count Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 3 House Wren 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Black and White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Nashville Warbler 10 Common Yellowthroat 7 American Redstart 2 Magnolia Warbler 2 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 White-throated Sparrow 12 Scarlet Tanager 1 Carver Park select count Turkey Vulture 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Brown Thrasher 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 11 Black-throated Green Warbler 4 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] Carver County
Migrants this morning during some very rushed(wasn't able to cover several areas I usually do) birding at the arboretum- Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Eastern Phoebe 2 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Brown Thrasher 1 Tennessee Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 9 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 1 Northern Parula 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 eating from compost pile Black-throated Green Warbler 1 White-throated Sparrow 3 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] Carver County
After a bit of a lull over the last 10 days, things picked up once again at Carver Park this morning. The morning began with frustration, as the first wave was all around me but nowhere to be seen. They finally showed themselves by flying away. Of that group of 15 or so birds I was able to identify 2 RC Kinglets and 2 Y-rumped Warbler in the group. After that there were an additional 8 migrant waves across the park of varying size. Of those waves I had anywhere from great luck with birds posing nicely to more frustration. Carver Park count Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan (cygnets getting closer to adult size) Wood Duck ~35 Mallard Hooded Merganser 2 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 13 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 flyover Killdeer 1 Ring-billed Gull 1 Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker 8 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 4 Blue-headed Vireo 6 (as many as 8) Warbling Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 (probably a 2nd seen briefly) Red-eyed Vireo 9 Blue Jay American Crow Barn Swallow 2 Black-capped Chickadee (Migrants were with any chickadee I saw.) White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12 Eastern Bluebird 6 Swainson's Thrush 1 American Robin Gray Catbird 5 Cedar Waxwing ~40 Black and White Warbler 4 Tennessee Warbler 10 (including 3 male in various plumage) Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Nashville Warbler 19+ Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart 2 (including 1 adult male) Northern Parula 1 (possibly a 2nd heard singing only once a partial song) Magnolia Warbler 4 Yellow Warbler 1 immature Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 Blackpoll Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 13 Field Sparrow 3 (did not actively search for sparrow) Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 3 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 American Goldfinch In addition to Carver Park, I did a little searching in rural areas of the county for the first time in several weeks. Around Lake Waconia besides Ring-billed Gulls, there were 2 Franklin's Gull and a Herring Gull. Around the New Germany area there were Gadwall, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, 2 Kestrel, 44 Great Egret, 5 Great Blue Heron, 2 Green Heron, Killdeer, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, ~40 unidentified shorebirds(amongst reeds and very skittish), 7 Northern Flicker, and a flock of Barn Swallow. 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] Carver County
Things have continued to slow down over the past few days. There wasn't really a significant push of migrants this morning at the arboretum with the latest front. There probably will be in the next couple days. Select counts Sat. Sept. 10 at arboretum Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Brown Thrasher 1 Ovenbird 4 Golden-winged Warbler 3 Black and White Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat American Redstart 4 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 Canada Warbler 2 Sun. Sept 11 at Carver Park First day I did not see or hear a Pewee since early May Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 8 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Black and White Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Purple Finch 1 Sun. Sept. 11 at arboretum Blue-headed Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Only warbler species seen was Yellowthroat Tues. Sept 13 at arboretum American White Pelican 75 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 House Wren 4 Gray Catbird 7 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 2 Connecticut Warbler 1 Mourning Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 3 Blackpoll Warbler 3 White-throated Sparrow 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6 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] Carver County
It took a combined effort at both Carver Park(3 hours) and the Landscape Arboretum(a little over an hour) to turn up 16 warbler and 5 vireo species this morning. Though one wave at the arboretum and one loose wave at Carver Park added 9 of the warbler and 2 of the vireo species. Without Kinglets or Yellow-rumped Warbler here yet to fill some of the voids, it was otherwise fairly quiet.It was nice hearing the sound of Sandhill Cranes at Carver Park again, as their call always reminds me of early spring birding. Carver Park complete list Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan 7 (cygnets slowly growing) Wood Duck Mallard Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Wild Turkey 8 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 4 Green Heron 1 Osprey 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (I did not notice this bird in a thick hedge within 15 feet of me for 10 minutes until he jumped out after a Chickadee. I think he was successful.) Sandhill Crane 2 Mourning Dove Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Alder/Willow Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbler Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Blue Jay American Crown Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 Eastern Bluebird Swainson's Thrush 5 American Robin Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Northern Waterthrush 2 Golden-winged Warbler 1 male Black and White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 4 (including a nearly full breeding plumage male) Nashville Warbler 6 Common Yellowthroat American Redstart 6 (including 4 adult male) Magnolia Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 male Field, Song, Swamp Sparrow Scarlet Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak American Goldfinch Arboretum select count Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Black and White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 4 (including a partial fall plumage male) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat American Redstart 3 Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 4+ Canada Warbler 1 female Wilson's Warbler 1 male Indigo Bunting 2 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] Carver County
The day to day changes in birds continue. Though I was able to find some migrants yesterday at Carver Park, it was otherwise fairly quiet. This morning there was a different variety of birds at the arboretum. Carver Park Sept. 4 Eastern Wood Pewee 3 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Golden-winged Warbler 1 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black and White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 7 Nashville Warbler 4 Mourning Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 4 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Canada Warbler 2 Landscape Arboretum Sept. 5 Eastern Wood Pewee 5 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 3 Red-eyed Vireo 6 House Wren 5 Sedge Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Gray Catbird 1 Ovenbird 1 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black and White Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 8 Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart 7 Magnolia Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 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] Carver County
With the southerly winds for much of this past week and besides scattered pockets of migrants, many areas of both Carver Park and the arboretum were much quieter during the week. With the recent frontal passage, the arboretum was once again active this morning. Though if you are not careful, you can easily miss the birds as they silently forage in and out view. There were also more flighty warblers than usual today that went unidentified. Select counts from the week Aug. 29 at arboretum Sora 1 Golden-winged Warbler 2 Black and White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 2 Mourning Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 4 Magnolia Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Canada Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 4 August 30 at Carver Park Alder Flycatcher 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Blue-winged Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 4 Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 8 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Canada Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 3 September 1 at arboretum Willow Flycatcher 1 Veery 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Golden-winged Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Magnolia Warbler 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Pine Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 2 Wilson's Warbler 1 September 3 at arboretum American Woodcock 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 12 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood Pewee 4 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 15 House Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Golden-winged Warbler 5 Black and White Warbler 4 Tennessee Warbler 4 Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart 6 Cape May Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 5 Bay-breasted Warbler 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 Canada Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 3 Unidentified warbler 12-17 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 2 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] Carver County
There were 14 warbler species this morning at Carver Park, but the most unusual bird seen today was a Lark Sparrow. It is the latest date I have seen a Lark Sparrow and the first Lark Sparrow I have seen at Carver Park. He was with other sparrows along the entrance road to the nature center. Select count Eastern Kingbird 3 (these should be leaving any day now) Blue-headed Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 Ovenbird 2 Blue-winged Warbler 2 Black and White Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 12 (finally had one singing today which usually happens a few times in the fall) Nashville Warbler 5 Mourning Warbler 1 male Common Yellowthroat 3 American Redstart 18 (many more males migrating through) Magnolia Warbler 4 (2 adult, 2 immature) Blackburnian Warbler 1 adult Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Canada Warbler 2 male Wilson's Warbler 5 (3 male, 2 female) Scarlet Tanager 2 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] Carver County(MN Landscape Arboretum)
Birded yesterday and today at the arboretum with 16 warbler species in less than 2 hours yesterday and 13 warbler species in 4 hours today.While today I covered areas I birded during yesterday's shorter amount of time available, many of the warblers seen today were in areas I did not have time to cover yesterday. Some of the active areas yesterday(eastern portions of arboretum property) were quiet today. The only migrant wave today was along the wooded edges of the rhododendron garden south of the visitors center. Initially that area was quiet, but when I returned 30 minutes later the wave was moving through. Other migrants were scattered. Yesterdays birds were more in small pockets of 3-5 birds at a time than any type of wave. Friday Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Golden-winged 1 immature Black and White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Mourning Warbler 1 male Common Yellowthroat 7 American Redstart 12 Magnolia Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 male Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 8 (probably a few more than this) Pine Warbler 1 male Canada Warbler 2 (female and immature) Wilson's Warbler 2 (male and female) Saturday Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 20 (at least) Empid 1 unknown seen besides Least (looked like your typical Alder/Willow type) that sang/called unlike any recordings of Least, Willow, Alder, or Yellow-bellied I have heard) Northern Waterthrush 4 Golden-winged Warbler 2 immature female Black and White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 9 Nashville Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 4 American Redstart 10 Magnolia Warbler 2 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 immature (extremely cooperative individual feeding on wild sunflower) Blackburnian Warbler 2 (a still fairly bright colored male and an immature) Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Canada Warbler 1 male Wilson's Warbler 4 (2 male, 1 female, and 1 immature) 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] Carver County
Normally I only post a select number of species that I see at Carver Park(Reserve). The following is the complete list of birds seen this morning at the park. Mallard Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Osprey Cooper's Hawk Mourning Dove Barred Owl Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Peewee Alder/Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird American Pipit 1 Cedar Waxwing Black and White Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 11 Nashville Warbler 5 Mourning Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 9 American Redstart Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 3 Yellow Warbler 3 Canada Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 3 Chipping Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Baltimore Oriole 9 House Finch American Goldfinch Yesterday in 45 minutes over a half mile stretch at the arboretum I saw 1 Black and White, 1 Tennessee, 1 Yellow, 1 Canada, 4 Chestnut-sided Warbler, 3 Common Yellowthroat, and 5 American Redstart. 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] Carver County
There was quite a bit of a difference in the birds around today at Carver Park vs. Sunday. Most areas of the park were very quiet this morning. Of the birds I saw, I wouldn't consider any them to really be in a wave. At best, there were 2 loose waves. Warbler count Golden-winged Warbler 1 female Brewster's Warbler 1 male Blue-winged Warbler 2 Black and White Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 1 male Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 1 male American Redstart 10-15 Blackburnian Warbler 2 immature Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Canada Warbler 1 female Wilson's Warbler 2 male 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] Carver County
Another good morning for migration, this time again at the MN Landscape Arboretum. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 (luckily sang several times) Golden-winged Warbler 3 (1 male, 2 immature) Black and White Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat several American Redstart 13 Magnolia Warbler 1 female Yellow Warbler 1 male Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 (at least one adult male included) Canada Warbler 2 (male and female) Wilson's Warbler 8 (5 male, 3 female) 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] Carver County migrant waves at Carver Park
There were 15 species of warbler at Carver Park this morning. The majority were in 5 different waves of migrants.In between the waves, it was fairly quiet with only scattered birds. I've been asked before about locations within the park, and my best advice is to walk as many trails as possible in whatever amount of time you have. Today's birds took 4 1/2 hours of walking. Warbler count Northern Waterthrush 1 Golden-winged Warbler 1 immature female Blue-winged Warbler 4 Black and White Warbler 10 Tennessee Warbler 16 (at least 4 of those male) Nashville Warbler 2 Mourning Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 12 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 9 (majority in 1 migrant wave) Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 female Canada Warbler 6 (4 male, 2 female) Wilson's Warbler 8 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] Carver County Warblers Galore (16 species, significant Canada Warbler movement)
In past years I have never made it to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in August, waiting until September and October to visit.This year I am making it a point to make several August trips to the arboretum beginning today. Yesterday's front brought with it the first significant wave of migrants into the area. Select arboretum count Caspian Tern 2 flyover Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8+ Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Peewee 6 Least Flycatcher 7 Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 House Wren 7 Sedge Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Veery 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Golden-winged Warbler 4 (2 male, 1 female, 1 immature female) Black and White Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 4 Nashville Warbler 1 female Mourning Warbler 1 female Common Yellowthroat ~10 American Redstart 6 female Blackburnian Warbler 4 (1 male, 1 female, 2 immature) Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 Pine Warbler 1 male Black-throated Green Warbler 1 immature female Canada Warbler 9 (4 male, 5 female) Wilson's Warbler 5 (3 male, 2 female) In addition there were Blue-winged, Yellow, and Wilson's Warbler at a quick stop from the north hunters lot at Rapids Lake MVNWR. Earlier in the week on the 16th there was a Mourning Warbler at Carver Park, and on the 18th there were Olive-sided Flycatcher, Tennessee, Nashville, and Canada Warbler also at Carver Park. 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] Carver County
Slowly migrants continue to make their way into the area. On Wednesday there were 5 Tennessee Warbler at Carver Park including a male still in breeding plumage.While there weren't any migrants on Thursday, there were 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron in the marsh on the north side of hwy. 5 just east of Waconia.I last saw a Night-Heron in the county in 2009. Saturday I did not find any migrants at Rapids Lake, but I did see a Forster's Tern in Chaska. Today there were 2 Black and White Warbler, 2 Wilson's Warbler, and a Bay-breasted Warbler at Carver Park. 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] Carver County
Nearly 2 weeks later than last fall's first migrant warbler, the first couple migrants were back in the area this morning. A Northern Waterthrush was at Carver Park, and a Nashville Warbler was at Rapids Lake MVNWR. 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] Carver County Buff-breasted Sandpiper
There were at least 2 Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the muddy field just north of the Salem Ave sod farm with mainly Killdeer and at least 1 other peep species. The sod farm itself has been planted with 2/3 corn this year and only has a small corner of sod viewable with the rest blocked from view by corn. All other fields in the county are either dry or drying fast with only a few Solitary and some Least Sandpiper seen this morning. 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] Carver County-Past week's shorebirds
Last weeks rain really helped provide shorebird habitat with several fields with flooded sections(not good news for farmers). Fields were significantly drier today vs. Tuesday, so unless we get more rain, shorebirds will likely be harder to come by.Like last summer, Chaska Lake and Rapids Lake have far too much water to provide good shorebird habitat. While the majority of the fields with suitable habitat did not produce(and shorebirds tended to be here one day and gone the next), here is the recap for the past week from fields that did produce. Killdeer seen every day in varying numbers Sat. July 16- 2 Spotted Sandpiper, 4 Solitary Sandpiper, 8 Least Sandpiper Sun. July 17- 2 Semipalmated Plover, 6 Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Upland Sandpiper, 10 Least Sandpiper Mon. July 18- 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 5 Solitary Sandpiper, 16 Lesser Yellowlegs, 29 Least Sandpiper, 12 Pectoral Sandpiper Tues. July 19- 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Least Sandpiper, 3 Stilt Sandpipier Thurs. July 21- 10 Solitary Sandpiper, 8 Least Sandpiper 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] Carver County
Select morning count at Carver Park Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 Willow Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 5 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 10 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 11 Yellow Warbler 21 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 (2 female, 1 male) Magnolia Warbler 2 male and female Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 female Blackburnian Warbler 1 female Blackpoll Warbler 3 male American Redstart 48 Mourning Warbler 1 male Common Yellowthroat 18 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 3 (2 male, 1 female) Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Orchard Oriole 2 male and female Baltimore Oriole 5 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] Carver County
Select count this morning at Carver Park Common Loon 1 Sandhill Crane 1 Black-billed Cuckoo 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 6 Willow Flycatcher 2 Alder/Willow Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 5 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 4 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Warbler Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 11 Swainson's Thrush 3 Blue-winged Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 17+ Yellow Warbler (one female building nest) Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 female Magnolia Warbler 5 (3 female, 2 male) Palm Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 2 male and female Blackpoll Warbler 9 (6 male, 3 female) Cerulean Warbler 1 male Black and White Warbler 3 American Redstart (several territorial pairs) Northern Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat (a few territorial pairs) Wilson's Warbler 7 Canada Warbler 3 (2 male, 1 female) White-throated Sparrow 1 Orchard Oriole 2 (pair possibly on territory) 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] Carver County 18 warbler species (Connecticut at arboretum)
Another dreary rainy morning, another good day of migration. Beginning at Rapids Lake(vistors center/river) the weather cooperated but migrants were scattered.I wasn't sure how birding would be at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. On Wednesday afternoon, I birded for an hour and only turned up 2 warbler species.This morning, though, there was another influx of migrant warblers. The Connecticut Warbler at the arboretum was along the Forest Trail on the northwest portion of its loop around a large marsh. It is also at this point where the the trail is its sloppiest from the high water levels. Rapids Lake select count Great Horned Owl 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Alder Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Tennessee Warbler 8 Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 female American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler 1 (probably the same bird reported earlier in the week by Craig Mandel) Ovenbird 1 Mourning Warbler 1 male along river Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler 1 male Arboretum select count Caspian Tern 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Willow Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Veery 1 Brown Thrasher 1 Golden-winged Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 13+ Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler 8+ Magnolia Warbler 8 (5 male, 3 female) Blackburnian Warbler 3 (2 female, 1 male) Bay-breasted Warbler 1 male Blackpoll Warbler 4 male Black and White Warbler 1 American Redstart Northern Waterthrush 1 Connecticut Warbler 1 male Mourning Warbler 2 (1 cooperative male, 1 heard only) Common Yellowthroat Canada Warbler 1 male Scarlet Tanager 1 Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
