[mou-net] [mou-rba] Lark Bunting in LQP Count
Male Lark Bunting along LQP CR 12, just west of Sweetwater WMA. GPS 44.8923x-96.3674 A small irruption of this grassland species is currently being reported in central North Dakota. Sent from the Shores of Gitchee-Gummi 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] [mou-rba] Gull-billed Tern
Just got a text from Tony Hertzel that the subject bird just returned to Salt Lake, LQP County. Sent from the Shores of Gitchee-Gummi 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] [mou-rba] Two Little Gulls Duluth
Two adult Little Gulls at 12th St access Park Point. I watched them courting, Sky pointing, and calling. Currently drifting towards Canal Park with flock of 250+ Bonaparte's. Peder Svingen Sent from the Shores of Gitchee-Gummi 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] [mou-rba] Little Blue Heron West Duluth
Adult Little Blue Heron found this Am by Laura Erickson at Indian Point, Duluth. Jan Kraemer just spotted it along Western Waterfront Trail, just west of Milford St / 72nd Ave West intersection. Foraging along shoreline. Currently perched high in Ash tree near intersection. Sent from the Shores of Gitchee-Gummi 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] [mou-rba] Two Gyrfalcons at Connors Point, Superior (WI)
There are currently two Gryfalcons near the Peavey Elevator complex on Connors Point in Superior, Wisconsin. One is a juvenile female gray/dark morph that has been seen most often in the morning. The other is an adult gray morph that is almost certainly the returning male from last winter -- which, at that time, set an all time record for longevity in the wild! So, this is very exciting and there is a good chance that one or both of them will be found in Duluth. Both birds can be seen from the public road that runs the length of Connors Point. This road is heavily used by trucks and workers especially during the week. There is a short turnoff just NW of the Peavey complex that leads to a closed gate. There is room for 3-4 vehicles to safely park off the road. Almost *every time* that I look for these falcons, I see birders/photographers trespassing. There is no excuse for this behavior. The entire area is clearly posted NO TRESPASSING. Yesterday, I saw a black SUV with Minnesota plates drive past the unmanned security gate at Peavey. There are trespassers there today too. This behavior is in direct violation of the ABA, MOU, and WSO birding ethics. This behavior reflects badly on all birders and all photographers. It's my understanding that one person got permission to enter the Peavey complex a week ago to get photos. This does not mean that anyone else can or should trespass. PLEASE respect private property and do not trespass at this facility. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS BEHAVIOR. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] [mou-rba] Ivory Gull update
Although the Ivory Gull disappeared from Canal Park several times today, especially when all the gulls were flushed by eagles, it eventually returned to dine on salmon. Early morning and after about 2:00 PM seem to be most reliable (as it was today), but anytime is worthwhile. The sidewalks, pier, and nearby areas are ice covered and treacherous, so beware! Thanks to all who have brought fresh salmon especially Shawn Zierman. Fresh frozen fish is just as good and might even last longer, since the Herring Gulls can't easily gulp down the entire filet. Lots of great photos have appeared on multiple platforms and it made the local news over the weekend. Next step CNN and The Situation Room? In case anyone is interested, I've uploaded a 2 minute video of the bird dining on my ahi and king salmon New Year's Day: https://youtu.be/ydynud3TXyA -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] Iceland Gulls etc. in Duluth
With warmer than normal temperatures forecast to continue this winter, there probably has never been a better prospect for large numbers of wintering gulls in the Duluth-Superior area. Well over 5,000 Herring Gulls are still in the area with at least 6 additional species seen in recent weeks (the 1st-cycle California Gull from 12/06 has not been refound as far as I know). Approximately 100 Ring-billed Gulls are still lingering; in a normal winter we are lucky to get even one on the Duluth CBC (which will be held one week from today). Today (12/12) I spent almost 3 hours at the Superior Entry with Robbye Johnson, Ted Keyel, and Jan & Larry Kraemer. Afterwards, I estimated the number of gulls at the Superior Landfill before carefully counting and identifying nearly 1,000 gulls at Canal Park. Substantial numbers of Herring and presumably other gull species at WLSSD are not included in the following totals. For Thayer’s and less common species, individual birds were carefully distinguished by plumage within each age class and most were documented by photos. The following totals are based on my own observations and may need to be adjusted after Robbye, Ted, and Jan review all of their images. Thayer’s Gull — *Record high Minnesota count of 24 *(plus 2 more at the landfill). Six 1st-cycle, six 2nd-cycle, five 3rd-cycle, and seven adults. Iceland Gull — *Total of 6 individuals*, all at Superior Entry (we also saw one Thayer’s/Iceland intergrade). Two 2nd-cycle, one advanced 2nd-cycle, one 3rd-cycle, one adult. This ties the 2nd-highest Minnesota count. Glaucous Gull — Two 1st-cycle and one adult at Superior Entry. Second-cycle at Canal Park. Great Black-backed Gull — Three 1st-cycle at Superior Entry. Two 1st-cycle at Canal Park, one of which was at the Entry earlier in the day. The adult GBBG that’s been seen regularly at Canal Park was not seen today. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] [mou-rba] Yet another Common Eider update
As mentioned by Kim Eckert in his most recent update, the two Common Eiders were near the mouth of the Lester River by about 2:45 PM today (Tuesday, 11-Nov). They lingered in that area for about an hour, despite the presence of surfers. At about 3:45 PM they began swimming east along the shoreline towards Brighton Beach (where they were originally found by Karl Bardon yesterday). Just before 4:00 PM and for no apparent reason, they took off and flew east. Robbye Johnson and I watched them flying east until they were no longer visible. If you haven't seen Ted Keyel's photo of the eiders next to a surfer (!) check it out at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29292306@N08/15583507930/in/photostream/ Hopeful observers tomorrow might want to meet at the Lester River mouth, exchange phone numbers, and coordinate a search. For what it's worth (probably nothing), the birds moved steadily west from Brighton Beach to Leif Erikson Park (14th Ave East) yesterday during the storm, and moved progressively east from the South Street pedestrian bridge (17th Ave East) to Brighton Beach (and beyond?) today. Good luck! -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] [mou-rba] White Ibis in Roseau County
Denny Martin just called and asked me to post their (Denny Barb) sighting of an adult White Ibis at the Norgaard Impoundment in Roseau County. They watched it through a scope from a distance of about half a mile as it circled over the impoundment and apparently landed. Denny described it as showing a reddish orange downcurved bill, reddish orange legs dangling below its body, and all white plumage except for black wingtips. Denny's directions to the impoundment are to drive east of Roseau on highway 11 to 440th Ave N. Turn north on 440th Ave and go to 340th Street. Turn east on 340th St and go about one mile to a dead end. The impoundment was filled for the first time this spring and has attracted lots of waterfowl and other birds. Denny stated that it's 9 square miles in size, so refinding the ibis will be challenging. Denny Barb are going to look for it again tomorrow morning. They do not have computer access while in Roseau County, but will call with any updates. Minnesota has only one accepted record of White Ibis, an adult seen and photographed in Winona County 13 May 1995 (Loon 67:71-72). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] [mou-rba] Corrected Directions: White Ibis in Roseau County
Denny Martin called again to give correct directions to the SW corner of the Norland (not Norgaard) Impoundment. From the intersection of state highways 310 and 11 in Roseau, go east on highway 11 for 5 miles to 440th Ave N. Turn left (north) and go 4 miles, then turn right (east) and go 1 mile to the dead end. Bring rubber boots, a spotting scope, camera, and maybe a canoe! -- Forwarded message -- From: Peder Svingen psvin...@gmail.com Date: Thu, May 1, 2014 at 8:37 PM Subject: White Ibis in Roseau County To: MOU RBA mou-...@lists.umn.edu Denny Martin just called and asked me to post their (Denny Barb) sighting of an adult White Ibis at the Norgaard Impoundment in Roseau County. They watched it through a scope from a distance of about half a mile as it circled over the impoundment and apparently landed. Denny described it as showing a reddish orange downcurved bill, reddish orange legs dangling below its body, and all white plumage except for black wingtips. Denny's directions to the impoundment are to drive east of Roseau on highway 11 to 440th Ave N. Turn north on 440th Ave and go to 340th Street. Turn east on 340th St and go about one mile to a dead end. The impoundment was filled for the first time this spring and has attracted lots of waterfowl and other birds. Denny stated that it's 9 square miles in size, so refinding the ibis will be challenging. Denny Barb are going to look for it again tomorrow morning. They do not have computer access while in Roseau County, but will call with any updates. Minnesota has only one accepted record of White Ibis, an adult seen and photographed in Winona County 13 May 1995 (Loon 67:71-72). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] Record high number of Red-necked Grebes on Lake Superior
Thanks to a tip from Mike Furtman and Terry Wiens, I spent several hours counting grebes along the North Shore between Lakewood Pumping Station and the French River this afternoon (1 May). Horned and Red-necked Grebes normally congregate along Park Point in late April / early May but Lake Superior is still frozen along Park Point and along the North Shore as far east as Lakewood Road. Thousands of grebes are currently staging along the edge of the pack ice. I counted a total of 2,588 Horned Grebes and no fewer than *3,955* Red-necked Grebes! The latter is nearly twice the previous high count of 2,094 Red-necked Grebes at Park Point 26 April 2013. Hundreds more birds were too far away to identify and/or count using my Leica Televid 77mm APO scope with 20-60x eyepiece despite good viewing conditions under overcast skies and relatively calm waters in the late afternoon. The vast majority of these unidentified birds were probably also Red-necked Grebes -- I saw one Long-tailed Duck and two White-winged Scoters, but very few ducks of any kind amongst the huge rafts of grebes. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] 26 warbler species at Park Point, Duluth, 5/30/2013
Overnight rain showers and fog throughout the day, with temperatures in the low 40s and ENE winds 5-10 mph, produced a good variety of warblers and other passerines at Park Point Recreation Area and adjacent Southworth Marsh today (30 May). Empids and Cedar Waxwings arrived in good numbers for the first time this spring at Park Point, and several mixed flocks of shorebirds were found on the beach. Sparky Stensaas found 6 Whimbrel at the Beach House that disappeared in the fog minutes later. Jan and Larry Kraemer discovered an Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler during their early morning Warbler Walk sponsored by Duluth Audubon. Perhaps the most unexpected bird of the day was an Evening Grosbeak found by Barb Akre as it foraged on the ground in a parking lot. Although the day's total of 441 individual warblers was less than 10% of the total seen during the incredible fallout on 19 May, all 26 of the warbler species normally seen each spring at Duluth were found between the Recreation Area and Southworth Marsh today. Unlike the fallout conditions for four consecutive days earlier this month (19-22 May), warblers were mostly foraging at normal heights above the ground, especially those found in pine and spruce. Many began singing in the early afternoon when the fog temporarily lifted and it warmed up a degree or two, but this was short-lived. Warblers were still silently foraging when I finally left the Recreation Area at 7:20 P.M. The following totals include birds seen with Jan and Larry Kraemer in the afternoon at the Recreation Area and my own observations at Southworth Marsh in the morning. Karl Bardon and others were also birding Park Point, and may have different totals and/or additional noteworthy sightings. 2 Golden-winged Warbler (male and female) 10 Tennessee Warbler 2 Orange-crowned Warbler (carefully identified at eye level) 10 Nashville Warbler 6 Northern Parula 55 Yellow Warbler 40 Chestnut-sided Warbler 68 Magnolia Warbler (second highest northbound count) 2 Cape May Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler (male found by Mike Hendrickson) 15 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 10 Blackburnian Warbler 2 Pine Warbler (female seen near singing male) 8 Palm Warbler (good number for this late in the season) 3 Bay-breasted Warbler 33 Blackpoll Warbler 4 Black-and-white Warbler 84 American Redstart 2 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 2 Connecticut Warbler (singing and seen) 2 Mourning Warbler 18 Common Yellowthroat 48 Wilson's Warbler 11 Canada Warbler -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.co m 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] More on the passerine fallout at Park Point on Sunday, 19 May (long)
On 19 May 2013 at Park Point, Duluth, observers witnessed the biggest fallout of thrushes, warblers, and other passerines in recent memory. Our total of 24 warbler species did not include Pine Warbler (which was reported by others) or Connecticut Warbler. The bonanza lasted throughout the day, although by afternoon the rate of new arrivals diminished. Record-high counts of 43 Veeries and 135 Swainson's Thrushes were found at the Recreation Area, and warblers seemed to be everywhere. During the early morning hours, overwhelming numbers of birds in reverse migration were moving past 43rd Street so quickly that most could not be identified; we estimate that only 10-15% of the early morning warblers were ever identified. Difficult viewing conditions in the afternoon, including high winds and poor visibility, also hampered our ability to identify each and every individual. Four observers (Mike Hendrickson, Jan Larry Kraemer, Peder Svingen) conducted eBird area counts of Southworth Marsh, morning and afternoon area counts at the Recreation Area, and stationary counts at Lafayette Square and the bus turnaround at 43rd Street. We also surveyed parts of the beach on the Lake Superior side of the Recreation Area. Observer effort and time were similar during our morning and afternoon area counts at the Recreation Area; however, the morning count favored areas near the ballfields, while the afternoon count favored the area between the entrance to the Recreation Area and the first parking lot. The total number of passerines counted in the afternoon was considerably less than our morning total, but at least 9 species were found in the afternoon that had not been seen earlier in the day. New individuals continued to arrive well into the afternoon. It should be noted that our area counts focused on passerines; a few exceptional waterbird species were reported by others during the morning, but we wanted to carefully document the exceptional numbers of thrushes, warblers, and sparrows. Heavy fog lingering from the previous day of rain and wind limited visibility in the morning to about 1/4 mile, but by late morning the fog lifted as the offshore winds (ENE 20-25 mph) picked up. By afternoon the winds were so strong that it was nearly impossible to see and/or identify waterbirds on Lake Superior. None of the larger trees and shrubs on Park Point were leafed out due to winter-like weather extending well into May (Duluth had its snowiest April ever with more than 50 inches of snow and persistent cold). Hummingbirds were trying to find sustenance from willow catkins and the first buds on fruiting trees without much success. Warblers congregated along the shore on both sides of the point. Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, and Magnolia and Yellow warblers were among the most common species foraging along the bayside shoreline. Orange-crowned, Tennessee, and Cape May warblers were among the most common species foraging at or below eye level in willow, red osier dogwood, and other small shrubs. American Redstarts, and Cape May, Magnolia, and Chestnut-sided warblers were foraging on the ground and flycatching from low perches. Despite the strong offshore winds, hundreds (perhaps thousands) of warblers were desperately trying to find food and shelter among the grasses and small shrubs along the dunes. Warblers were apparently searching for insects and any other available sustenance in the detritus washed up on the beach. Hundreds of Palm Warblers were foraging along the wrack line, along with several other warbler species. Most surprising to us were the Blackburnian and Blackpoll warblers (species normally seen foraging in trees above eye level) and the Mourning and Canada warblers (species usually seen skulking in heavy undergrowth) that were picking at debris on the beach. Though adding a splash of color to the beach on a dreary and overcast day, we realized that these birds were stressed by the cold, windy conditions and lack of food sources. The following data represent our best effort to count and keep track of birds throughout the day and undoubtedly underestimate the numbers of the most common warbler species. These totals do not include the thousands of warblers migrating past the 43rd Street bus turnaround prior to our arrival at Park Point. We also missed seeing most of the thousands of sparrows reported by Douglas Mayo. Our results: 43 Veery (record high count) 6 Gray-cheeked Thrush 135 Swainson's Thrush (record high count) 4 Golden-winged Warbler 61 Tennessee Warbler 12 Orange-crowned Warbler 53 Nashville Warbler (4th highest northbound count) 7 Northern Parula 22 Yellow Warbler 26 Chestnut-sided Warbler 72 Magnolia Warbler (2nd highest northbound count) 92 Cape May Warbler (2nd highest northbound count) 5 Black-throated Blue Warbler (2 males, 3 females, 2nd highest northbound count) 84 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 8 Blackburnian Warbler (including adult male
[mou-net] [mou-rba] More record-high counts of Red-throated Loons at Duluth (long)
Record high numbers of Red-throated Loons have been found at Duluth for the fourth time in the last four days. A previous posting announced the total of 174 found by Mike Hendrickson, Jan Larry Kraemer, and Peder Svingen at Park Point on Sunday (5 May). Two days later on Tuesday afternoon (7 May), Jan Larry Kraemer and Peder Svingen counted 287 Red-throated Loons at Park Point between the 12th Street access and Sky Harbor Airport. This morning (8 May), Karl Bardon tallied a remarkably similar total of 288 at Park Point and this afternoon, Mike Hendrickson, Jan Larry Kraemer, and Peder Svingen teamed up to count no fewer than 355 Red-throated Loons at Duluth! During each of these surveys, we carefully excluded birds counted from previous locations as we proceeded along Park Point from Canal Park to the Sky Harbor Airport. Counts were done from Canal Park, 12th St access, 22nd St access, 31st St (Lafayette Square), 43rd St access, and the beach near Sky Harbor Airport. Our highest single point counts were 196 Red-throated Loons at 22nd St (5/8) and 169 at Lafayette Square (5/7), but high numbers have also been recorded at 43rd St and from the dunes near the airport. When multiple observers were present, we took turns recording data as the other members of our party carefully identified and counted each loon. It should be noted that at each stop there were several thousand unidentifiable birds visible far out on the lake and some were undoubtedly Red-throated Loons. It would not be surprising to find much higher numbers if we surveyed western Lake Superior by boat or by airplane (MOU members may recall that boat and airplane surveys of Common Loons at Lakes Winnibigoshish and Mille Lacs were conducted with results comparable to shore-based surveys, but Lake Superior is a whole new ball game -- maybe we can get a grant to survey western Lake Superior using a drone…). Why are record high numbers of Red-throated Loons being found this spring? We suspect that a confluence of factors has created a perfect storm at Duluth. The long, cold winter has kept large lakes to our north frozen much later than normal (ice-out dates in NE Minnesota are predicted to be among the latest ever recorded). As a result, loons and other waterbirds are staging on western Lake Superior for extended periods of time instead of stopping by for just a few days. Conditions for viewing birds on Lake Superior have been near perfect for each of the last four days with calm or very light winds, still, sky-blue waters, cool temperatures with minimal heat distortion, and very few fishing boats out on the lake. Afternoon surveys have the advantage of better lighting, though Karl's morning survey today under overcast conditions produced several additional species of interest (all 3 scoter species, Long-tailed Duck, Eared Grebe, and Western Grebe). Up to 3 Western Grebes were still visible from the Rose Garden / Lief Erikson Park area this afternoon and a male Ruddy Duck and 3 White-winged Scoters were found on the bayside of Park Point. There may never be a better time and place to see so many Red-throated Loons in Minnesota at once! -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] Record fall counts of White-throated Sparrow, Duluth
Just one day after Karl Bardon and others recorded a record high fall count of 730 White-throated Sparrows during the 9/21 Hawk Ridge / Lester River Census in Duluth, I carefully counted 1,035 along a 2.5 mile stretch of East Superior Street between state highway 61 and McQuade Road, from 7:45 AM to 9:11 AM on the 22nd of September. This included a single flock of 240 White-throats peppering 80th Ave East -- a short, dead-end gravel road just west of Lakewood Road. Elsewhere in Duluth including my own yard, there were several dozen White-throats throughout the day with additional large flocks on Park Point and Wisconsin Point. Most of these flocks were monospecific, but some had a few White-crowned and Chipping Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos. The only Harris's Sparrows that I found today was a flock of 8 at the Lafayette Square community gardens on Park Point. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] Common Nighthawk migration at Duluth
Thanks to a phone call from Greg Garmer, who reported seeing 100s of nighthawks while driving along the North Shore near the McQuade Safe Harbor east of Duluth this evening, I rushed down to the Duluth Lakewalk in time to witness a relatively early big push of nighthawks along the North Shore. In just one hour of counting between 7:00 and 8:00 PM, I tallied 4,241 individuals! Although this is far fewer than the record migration counts obtained in past decades (The Loon 63:68-69), it's my personal best total during the 20 years that I've lived in Duluth. None of the top 10 high counts for this species during fall migration are earlier than 14 August and the average date for all high counts is 24 August. While driving down to the Lakewalk at 25th Ave East, I saw dozens of nighthawks foraging at or near tree top level that would have been difficult or impossible to see from the Lakewalk. It's possible that 100s or 1000s of birds passed by unnoticed at tree top level or passed by before 7:00 PM. At the time of this writing, I don't know if anyone was counting nighthawks from Hawk Ridge or elsewhere along the North Shore. During the first part of the hour, the nighthawks were actively foraging and attracted the attention of hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls hoping to join the smorgasbord. As the evening progressed, the nighthawks gradually increased altitude and foraged less often as their migration became more purposeful. Winds were calm the entire hour with temperatures in the low 70s and dewpoints 55-57 degrees, creating near perfect conditions for watching these fascinating birds. Thanks, Greg! -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] [mou-rba] Whimbrels and warbler fallout at Park Point
At least 8 shorebird species at 22nd Street public access on Park Point including 6 Whjmbrel. Warbler fallout at Southworth Marsh on Park Point including Golden-winged and two singing Connecticut Warblers. Peder Svingen Duluth MN 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] Common Tern migration at Duluth (LONG)
This morning (Tuesday, 15 May 2012) between 1045 and 1145, Jan Larry Kraemer and I counted a total of 942 Common Terns at Park Point, including no fewer than 229 migrating north over Lake Superior (observed from Lafayette Square between 1045 and 1145) and a tureen of 666 Common Terns on the mudflats at Hearding Island (observed from the pedestrian access by the marina off 19th Street). Despite northwesterly winds gusting 20-25 mph, the birds over the lake were moving north in a steady stream with occasional small flocks moving in unison. We are confident that the birds flying past Lafayette Square were not the same birds found on the mudflats at Hearding Island, since we could follow them through our spotting scopes until they disappeared from sight up the North Shore. When the stream over the lake turned into a trickle, we went immediately to Hearding Island and found 666 Common Terns along with hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls, a few Herring Gulls, several Caspian Terns, two dozen Bonaparte's Gulls, and one Willet. We thought that this would be the end of the story! However, in the afternoon I went to Wisconsin Point and found Common Terns streaming across the mouth of the Superior Entry at a rate of 30 birds/minute. They were all moving in the same northerly direction -- just like the birds at Lafayette Square that morning. I returned to Park Point and recounted from several access points along Park Point. I only counted birds moving in a northerly direction and since I undoubtedly missed counting some birds while moving from one access point to another, the following represents the minimum number migrating over Lake Superior between 1600 and 1720, plus a recount of those still at Hearding Island between 1730 and 1800. 12th Street Access (1600 to 1620): 332 including a single flock of 284; 22nd Street Access (1625 to 1640): 122 mostly singles or small groups; 31st Street (Lafayette Square, 1645 to 1655): 72 mostly singles or small groups; dune bridge by Sky Harbor Airport (1700 to 1720): 279 including loose flock of 126; Hearding Island (1730 to 1800): 340 Common, 2 Forster's, and 17 Caspian terns. Afternoon Total: 1,145 Common Terns Morning + Afternoon Total: 2,087 Common Terns It's possible that the birds seen migrating north in the morning circled back across the lake to Wisconsin Point and passed Park Point again in the late afternoon. However, I believe that we saw different birds throughout the day for a grand total of 2,087 Common Terns! Nearly all of the birds were flying purposefully and in the same direction all day; very few were seen foraging or plunge-diving, although I saw a good sized flock of about 125 foraging over a flock of 36 Red-breasted Mergansers off Gull Bluff at Wisconsin Point. This total of 2,087 Common Terns represents the third highest Minnesota count (14,000 were counted by Kim Eckert and Bob Russell at Duluth, 20 May 1971, and 3,000 were counted by Jack Hofslund at Duluth, 25 May 1963). It's also noteworthy that only 2 Forester's Terns were identified today; this species is a rare migrant at Duluth, though small flocks are sometimes seen on Allouez Bay and nearby portions of Wisconsin Point. I have oftern wondered if Forster's Terns are more likely to follow small rivers, chains of lakes, or wetlands in the prairie pothole region, while Common Terns prefer larger bodies of water including major rivers and large lakes. The BNA accounts for these two species do not suggest clear differences in habitat preference during migration, although Forster's reportedly stays relatively close to shore in coastal areas, while some populations of Common Tern migrate far off shore. According to the BNA account, Common Tern spring migration is poorly documented south of its breeding range, but birds probably migrate directly over land from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes and large numbers are known to stage on Lake Michigan in mid-May (Nisbet, Ian C. 2002. Common Tern (*Sterna* *hirundo*), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/618 -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] Hybrid Common Goldeneye X Barrow's Goldeneye in Duluth
This afternoon (1 April), I found an apparent hybrid Common Goldeneye X Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula X B. islandica) in the Duluth Harbor, between 32nd and 33rd Street on Park Point. The bird showed an intermediate head shape and intermediate facial marking, with a reduced amount of black on its scapulars and a row of white rhomboidal spots that resembled those found on Barrow's. At the same time, it completely lacked the black shoulder spur of Barrow's, and the extent and shape of the black on its posterior flanks and crissum appeared identical to that of the male Common Goldeneyes. Its bill was stubby in shape and smaller than the bill of adjacent Commons, i.e., its bill was more like Barrow's. Its facial mark was teardrop-shaped (neither rounded like Common nor crescent-shaped like Barrow's) and the superior aspect of this white facial mark did not rise to the level of the bird's eye. The bird was found amongst a flock of approximately 2,700 diving ducks (including 100s of goldeneyes), so it may be difficult to refind. Note that I was unable to refind the male Barrow's Goldeneye today (last seen in the harbor 22 March), so could not directly compare the hybrid to the Barrow's that has overwintered in Duluth since its discovery 19 November 2011. This is the third consecutive year that an apparent hybrid between these two species has been documented in Duluth, and the fourth record of this taxon for Minnesota. The first was documented by the late Jim Mattsson at Point Douglas, Washington County, 1 January 2008. Previous Duluth records were 2 February 2010 (Loon 82:111) and 27 November-19 December 2010 (Loon 83:108). An article documenting these Minnesota records and summarizing reports of this hybrid in North America was published in The Loon 82:147-150. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] [mou-rba] Glaucous-winged Gull images and videos from Duluth
The adult Glaucous-winged Gull was seen at Canal Park, Duluth, in the late afternoon yesterday (12/29) between 2:40 and 2:57 PM and all afternoon today (12/30) until 3:00 PM when all of the gulls departed Canal Park. Other observers have reported finding the gull on ice floes in the Duluth harbor or at WLDDS (27th Ave West), but Canal Park has been the most consistent location since its discovery by Karl Bardon on the 22nd. I uploaded four short HD video clips taken yesterday under overcast skies which gives an accurate rendering of mantle shade. One of the clips shows the bird surrounded by American Herring Gulls for direct comparison of size, bill characteristics, and mantle shade. Other clips show the bird bathing and flapping its wings. http://youtu.be/hhpbPSDVT-I http://youtu.be/hZG1z8fY5mM http://youtu.be/b3QGNrHL68E http://youtu.be/-1zeZL8OEBs A series of images taken 25 December 2011 can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cochon/sets/72157628573959635/ Informed comments on this bird are most welcome. Thanks for your interest and best wishes for good birding in 2012! -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com 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] [mou-rba] Pacific Loon, Sabine's Gulls, Great Black-backed Gull, Parasitic Jaegers at Duluth
At 5:30 PM this afternoon (Saturday, 24 September) I spotted four juvenile Sabine's Gulls from the Beach House on Park Point, Duluth. Shortly thereafter all four birds were refound by Barb and Denny Martin from the 22nd Street public access on Park Point. The flock of four was last seen flying towards Wisconsin Point. A juvenile Pacific Loon seen from the 12th Street public access on Park Point this afternoon was refound late in the afternoon off 22nd Street. This was probably the same juvenile found late yesterday by Karl Bardon at the Superior Entry. Interestingly, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Jaegerfest field trip to Wisconsin Point found an adult Pacific Loon this morning that ranged between parking lot #1 and parking lot #12 (parking areas on Wisconsin Point are sequentially numbered and clearly marked). Doug Kieser, Scott Meyer, Barb and Denny Martin and others reported 2 juvenile Parasitic Jaegers on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry this afternoon. Yesterday (23 September), I saw and photographed 2 juvenile Parasitics from the Beach House on Park Point. I also saw *4 juvenile jaegers* flocking together near Sky Harbor Airport on Park Point the previous day (22 September). The WSO group has been seeing several juvenile Parasitics and at least one adult light-morph Parasitic from parking lot #1 on Wisconsin Point on a regular basis this entire week. A juvenile Great Black-backed Gull was observed on both sides of the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line today; this individual was first found by Karl Bardon on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry on the 23rd. Recent observations of Bonaparte's, Thayer's, Lesser Black-backed, and Great Black-backed gulls in the Duluth-Superior area, in addition to the aforementioned Sabine's Gulls and 2 different Franklin's Gulls (one of these at Park Point), makes a total of 8 species of gull this week to herald the onset of gull-watching season. Other birds of interest seen only at Wisconsin Point include a White-winged Scoter and a male Surf Scoter between parking lot #1 and Gull Bluff on the 24th, the first Harris's Sparrows of the season on the 23rd, and a total of 21 species of warbler for the WSO weekend field trip. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN 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] [mou-rba] Parasitic Jaeger and Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Park Point 9/17/2011
Late this afternoon while birding with the Vold family at Park Point, we watched a juvenile *Parasitic Jaeger* strafe the beach and harass Ring-billed Gulls near the dune bridge by Sky Harbor Airport. Based on photographs taken today at Park Point and this morning at Wisconsin Point, the same individual was at both locations today. It also appears to be the same individual seen daily by myself and others at Wisconsin Point since 8 September, which had also been seen near the Sky Harbor Airport on the 6th and photographed at the 43rd Street public access to Park Point on the 9th. Though it has long been suspected that some jaegers linger at the western end of Lake Superior for extended periods of time on both sides of the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line, this represents one of the few such individuals photographically documented in both states on multiple dates. Also of interest at Park Point this afternoon were *18 American Golden-Plovers* on the ballfields at the Recreation Area and *2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers* on the beach between 22nd Street and 31st Street (Lafayette Square). This morning at Wisconsin Point with Mike Hendrickson, Robbye Johnson, and others, highlights (Wisconsin only) among the 8,000+ gulls congregating off parking lot #1 were the following: *Western Grebe* (casual migrant in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin) *Peregrine Falcon* attacking Ring-billed Gulls (keep up the good work) *3 Parasitic Jaegers* (1 light-morph adult and 2 juveniles) 2 Black-bellied Plover 8 American Golden-Plovers 1 Semipalmated Plover 43 Sanderlings 1 Least Sandpiper *2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers* -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN 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] [mou-rba] White-winged Scoter in St. Louis County
I have a second hand report of a White-winged Scoter at Fisherman's Point in Hoyt Lakes, St. Louis County this past weekend. The bird was reportedly photographed by Audrey Evers this morning (20 June). This is extraordinary, but not unprecedented during the summer season. Spring migrants occasionally linger into early June and there are summer records for Clearwater, Marshall, Polk, and Roseau counties in the Northwest region. Most unusual was the well documented discovery of one at Herschberger W.M.A., Lincoln County, 21 and 28 June 2006, by the Minnesota County Biological Survey (Loon 79:18). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN *psvin...@gmail.com* 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] Jaeger photos from Wisconsin Point, October 2010
Here are my best images of Parasitic Jaegers and the subadult Long-tailed Jaeger at Wisconsin Point last month. Within each of the 3 albums you can click on Slideshow or select individual images. Hope you enjoy them! Thanks. http://picasaweb.google.com/psvingen/JaegerSlamAtWisconsinPointParasiticJaeger# http://picasaweb.google.com/psvingen/JaegerSlamAtWisconsinPointInterspecificBehavior# http://picasaweb.google.com/psvingen/JaegerSlamAtWisconsinPointLongTailedJaeger# -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN 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] 3 Jaeger Species at WI. Pt.
In addition to the species list already posted for Friday (10/15) at Wisconsin Point, Joel Claus spotted a Franklin's Gull and Mike Hendrickson spotted an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at parking lot #1. At 5:30 PM that same afternoon at the Park Point Recreation Area, I watched two jaegers interacting with one another and chasing Ring-billed Gulls. One was a subadult Parasitic, while the second bird was an unidentified juvenile. Although the juvenile appeared to be slightly larger than the Parasitic, reverse sexual dimorphism in jaegers affects size comparisons between species and my views were not good enough for identification based on plumage. Another (or the same?) Franklin's Gull was photographed on the ballfields at the Recreation Area. I took well over 2,000 images of the jaegers at Wisconsin Point on the 15th and probably won't be able to upload any Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger shots until later this weekend. Meanwhile, here is the link to my best images of the Long-tailed Jaeger. http://picasaweb.google.com/psvingen/JaegerSlamAtWisconsinPoint# Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Oct 15, 2010, at 6:50 PM, Michael Hendrickson wrote: Spent a remarkable day with Peder Svingen, Joel Claus and Robbeye Johnson at the first parking lot at Wisconsin Point. I arrived around 10:30am and stayed until 2:45pm. We observed the adult Long-tailed Jaeger numerous times chasing Ring-billed Gulls and even Herring Gulls! We were able to take numerous photo as they jaeger zipped by us several times chasing up the gull off the beach or gulls loafing out in front of us. We also observed a juvenile Pomarine Jaeger ( probably one of Karl Bardon's birds he found yesterday ) and a sub adult Parasitic Jaeger. At times the Pomarine Jaeger was chasing the Parasitic Jaeger or the Long-tailed Jaeger. So we were able to take in all the field marks of each species with having all three species chasing each other and also compared them with the gulls they chased. Other highlights: * Red-throated Loon * Long-tailed Ducks * good numbers of Northern PintailsI posted all my photos of the jaegers on my blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ Have a great day and I am sure others will be posting locations to view their photos. Also keep an eye on the MOU show case in recently seen section as I am sure people will be posting their photos. Mike Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ 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] 10 Sabine's Gulls at Superior Entry, Smith's Longspur at Duluth
At 2:30 PM this afternoon (9/25) a flock of 10 juvenile Sabine's Gulls flew along the jetty on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry and continued towards Park Point. As far as I know, they were not refound at the Entry or at Park Point. Most sightings of this species in Minnesota have been of individuals or small groups, but larger flocks have been seen on two occasions: 26 birds at the Superior Entry 9/23/2000 (plus 3 more seen only on the Wisconsin side of the Entry, Loon 73:187) and 70 birds at Park Point 9/16/2005 (Loon 78:118-118). Late this afternoon, a group of birders refound a Smith's Longspur originally found and photographed by Michael Furtman near 27th Ave West, Duluth. To reach this location, take the 27th Ave West exit off I-35 and turn right (west) on the road that leads towards a building used for auctions (this location is opposite from the road that leads to the WLSSD yard waste recycling site). The bird was foraging in the weedy grass along the east edge of the gravel parking lot that is across from the auction building. Single Franklin's Gulls were seen at Wisconsin Point and at the Park Point Recreation Area again today. The Red-necked Phalarope found yesterday at Castle Danger by Kim Eckert and his Minnesota Birding Weekends group could not be refound. At Wisconsin Point today, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology group had a single Sabine's Gull in the early morning and several sightings of what was probably the same light morph Parasitic Jaeger. In addition to raptors, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory witnessed a good flight of Sandhill Cranes and Rusty Blackbirds today. For these and other highlights go to the HRBO website at http://www.hawkridge.org/ and click on See the Raptor Count. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Jaegers at Wisconsin Point
This afternoon (Monday, 9/6) the winds were NE at 20-25 mph gusting to 30-35 mph along Park Point (Duluth, Minnesota) and Wisconsin Point (Superior, Wisconsin). Based on age and plumage, I saw at least four different jaegers at Wisconsin Point this afternoon between Gull Bluff (east of the Superior Landfill off Moccasin Mike Rd) and the Superior Entry at the tip of Wisconsin Point: two adult light-morph Parasitic Jaegers, one unidentified dark juvenile, and one probable Pomarine Jaeger. Nearly 4,000 gulls were in the area so there was lots of action. The best viewing was from Parking Lot #1 at the base of Wisconsin Point, but jaegers could be seen anywhere along the point including the Superior Entry. Later in the afternoon, I looked from several public access points along Park Point but was unable to spot any more jaegers. The forecast calls for rain tonight and tomorrow with winds shifting around to the west and then northwest. East to NNE winds are generally considered most favorable for jaeger watching at the western end of Lake Superior, but jaegers are sometimes seen under less than favorable conditions. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN 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] possible Laughing Gull, Houston County
Dennis Martin just called and asked me to post his sighting of a possible first-cycle Laughing Gull in Houston County. The bird is sitting on an island in the river (the same island where an avocet was seen last week) about a quarter mile east of the wooden viewing platform along highway 26, approximately 4 miles south of Brownsville. Due to the distance he has been unable to evaluate bill size or shape, and he has not seen the bird in flight. The bird is amongst a flock of several hundred Ring-billed Gulls and looks smaller than all of the adjacent Ring-billeds. Dennis stated that the folded primaries are solidly black and that its back is clearly darker gray than the Ring-billeds, with brownish tertials. Although the bird has extended its wings while preening, he has not been able to see the ventral surface of its remiges and he has not seen its tail pattern. Dennis is keenly aware of how difficult it can be to distinguish Franklin's and Laughing gulls and hopes that other birders are able to refind this bird. In addition to Gulls of the Americas (Howell and Dunn) and other books specifically addressing gull identification, birders may wish to consult Kenn Kaufman's Advanced Birding field guide for further guidance. Thanks to Dennis for his timely report. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN 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] MOU Records Committee update
I am pleased to announce that Tom Tustison has been appointed Chairperson of the MOU Records Committee effective 1 July 2010. His expertise on identification, his birding experience in Minnesota, and his documentation skills are well known to MOU members. Please join me in welcoming Tom as he assumes this position and please do everything possible to make his job easier! The Committee encouragea observers to always take field notes and upload written documentation and images to http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/rqd.pl Many thanks to all of you -- individually and as a group -- for your cooperation and support during my 6 and 1/2 year tenure. Good birding! Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Probable Western Tanager Duluth St Louis Cty
There are four previous records of Western Tanager for St. Louis County: 19-25 May 1967, Duluth, adult male photographed (Loon 40:23) 12-14 May 1978, Duluth, adult male (Loon 50:170) 16 Sep 1989, Indian Point, Duluth, female photographed, vocalizations recorded (Loon 61:198-199) 10-16 May 2006, Embarrass, adult male photographed (Loon 78:216) Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On May 6, 2010, at 7:02 PM, Don Kienholz wrote: SNIP Hope it returns, not sure of Western Tanager status in St Louis Cty. I have never seen one. regards Don Kienholz 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] high counts of Glaucous Gull and Great Black-backed Gull
Mike Hendrickson and I surveyed gulls in the Twin Ports today (1 January 2010). I was at the Superior Entry at the tip of Wisconsin Point at the same time that Mike was at Canal Park, so there was no overlap between our counts. We subsequently met at Fitger's parking ramp in Duluth and recounted a large flock of gulls that had moved out onto the lake from Canal Park. Record or near record high counts of Iceland, Glaucous, and Great Black-backed gulls were obtained. Herring Gull -- 856 (plus 440 more at Superior Landfill). Thayer's Gull -- 3 (adult at Canal Park, first-cycles at Superior Landfill and Superior Entry). Iceland Gull -- 4 (second-cycle at Canal Park, 2 first-cycle at Superior Landfill, 1 first-cycle at Superior Entry). The record high count for Minnesota is 4 first-cycle birds at the Superior Entry 28 November 2009. Glaucous Gull -- 22 (6 adults, 2 third-cycle, 6 second-cycle, 8 first- cycle). Just before driving out to the Superior Entry, I stopped at the Superior Landfill and counted 8 more Glaucous Gulls for a total of 30 Glaucous Gulls in the Twin Ports. The record high count for Minnesota is 28 at Knife River, Lake County, 28 January 1967. Great Black-backed Gull -- 6 (1 adult, 3 second-cycle, 2 first-cycle). New record high count for Minnesota. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Slaty-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Canal Park, Duluth
Early this afternoon the third-cycle Slaty-backed Gull was seen again at Canal Park, Duluth. Also present were one adult and one second- cycle Thayer's Gull, a second-cycle Great Black-backed Gull, 300 Herring Gulls, and 29 Ring-billed Gulls. Another 300+ Herring Gulls were tallied near the WLSSD treatment plant off 27th Ave West. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] 8 species of gulls including California Gull at the Superior Entry, St. Louis County
Mike Hendrickson and I observed eight species of gulls between 1:35 and 3:05 PM today (11/21) at the Superior Entry. The Entry can be reached by hiking for about 2 miles past Sky Harbor Airport on Park Point in Duluth, or by driving to the tip of Wisconsin Point via Moccasin Mike Road in east Superior. Most unusual was a first-cycle California Gull spotted by Mike on the Minnesota breakwall at 1:50 PM. The other seven species were seen on both sides of the state line. Our totals for the afternoon included 19 Ring-billed Gulls, 512 Herring Gulls, 8 first-cycle and 3 adult Thayer's Gulls, 2 first-cycle and one adult Iceland Gulls, a first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 first-cycle Glaucous Gulls, and one first-cycle, one second-cycle, and one adult Great Black-backed Gulls. Later that same afternoon, we joined Karl Bardon, Jane Hosking, and Andrew Longtin at Canal Park and saw an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, two more Glaucous Gulls (one of these in second-cycle plumage), and another adult Great Black-backed Gull. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Black Guillemot - Taconite Harbor
Mike Hendrickson called to report that as of 7:30 this morning (11/8), the Black Guillemot was still present in the protected portion of the safe harbor at Taconite Harbor. Anyone interested in seeing this potential first state record should try to do so today. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN On Nov 7, 2009, at 4:29 PM, Anthony Hertzel wrote: The bird is in the smaller, inner harbor close to the boat landing. See: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=qsource=s_qhl=engeocode=q=taconite+harbor,+minnesotasll=47.528851,-90.90148sspn=0.048624,0.078964ie=UTF8hq=hnear=Taconite+Harbor,+Cook,+Minnesotall=47.521244,-90.924225spn=0.006079,0.009871t=hz=17 On Nov 7, 2009, at 4:18 P.M., David Benson wrote: Kim Eckert's Minnesota Birding Weekend trip found an immature Black Guillemot at Taconite Harbor this afternoon. Hope the bird roosts there overnight! Dave Benson Duluth PS Lars and I were birding in Two Harbors this afternoon. I looked out at the rocks and said, There ought to be guillemots on that rock! Ha! Anthony Hertzel axhert...@gmail.com Please note my new e-mail address 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] White-winged Dove, Short-eared Owl, Nelson's Sparrow at 40th Ave West / Erie Pier, Duluth, 10/8/09
Extensive searching throughout the day by multiple parties failed to refind the White-winged Dove at the 40th Ave West/Erie Pier area in Duluth, including an unsuccessful search by yours truly between 8:30 and 9:30 AM, but at 5:35 PM this afternoon (Thursday, 8 October) the dove was seen in flight by Barb and Denny Martin and myself. We watched it fly into a stand of aspen and willows bordering a small pond at the northwest corner of the impoundment, and a few minutes later we found it perched just above eye level near the trunk of a 3 inch dbh aspen. The bird was still in this location when we left at 6:00 PM. Other noteworthy sightings at the 40th Ave West/Erie Pier area today include a Short-eared Owl found by Kim Eckert and the Martins, and a stunning adult Nelson's Sparrow that flushed from a grassy area on the west side of the impoundment and perched in full sun, where I admired it for two minutes early this morning. Thirteen species of Emberizids were seen at this location today, and a 14th species -- Chipping Sparrow -- was found at Park Point. No one reported Le Conte's Sparrow or Smith's Longspur, both of which were seen here 10/4/2009. Below is a composite list of the highest count for each species seen at the 40th Ave West/Erie Pier area today. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-re...@ebird.org Date: October 8, 2009 7:34:21 PM CDT To: psvin...@d.umn.edu Subject: eBird Report - Duluth--40th Ave West / Erie Pier , 10/8/09 Location: Duluth--40th Ave West / Erie Pier Observation date: 10/8/09 Number of species: 41 Snow Goose 1 Immature white morph. Cackling Goose 15 Canada Goose 63 Mallard 63 Blue-winged Teal 2 Northern Pintail 5 Green-winged Teal 5 Great Blue Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Merlin 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 peep sp. 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Wilson's Snipe 1 Ring-billed Gull 1 Herring Gull 2 Rock Pigeon 2 White-winged Dove 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 American Crow 9 Horned Lark 103 Tree Swallow 1 swallow sp. 1 Black-capped Chickadee 3 American Pipit 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 38 Palm Warbler 6 Clay-colored Sparrow 2 Vesper Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 4 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 5 Song Sparrow 28 Lincoln's Sparrow 8 Swamp Sparrow 18 White-throated Sparrow 18 Harris's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 46 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Lapland Longspur 350 Red-winged Blackbird 7 Rusty Blackbird 2 American Goldfinch 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) 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] White-winged Dove in Duluth
Karl Bardon joined us at the 40th Ave West/Erie Pier area and after two hours of searching the entire area, we refound the White-winged Dove at approximately the same location at 6:05 PM. This time, it flew several hundred yards in a northwesterly direction and probably found a place to roost for the night. Karl was able to obtain an identifiable image of the dove in flight. The approximate GPS coordinates where it was originally found are as follows: 46.73957 -92.14358 Other species of interest included a Smith's Longspur and a Le Conte's Sparrow -- one of 9 sparrow species at this location. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN On Oct 4, 2009, at 4:40 PM, Kim R Eckert wrote: Peder Svingen just called to report that he and Cameron Rutt found a White-winged Dove at the 40th Ave West Erie Pier area around 4:00 pm. It was seen near the far SW corner of the area where the large sand piles are located, but they lost sight of it and were trying to relocate it when he called. Kim Eckert 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] 23 warbler species at Park Point Recreation Area, Duluth 9/11/09
Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-re...@ebird.org Date: September 11, 2009 8:33:34 PM CDT To: psvin...@d.umn.edu Subject: eBird Report - Park Point Recreation Area , 9/11/09 Location: Park Point Recreation Area Observation date: 9/11/09 Number of warbler species: 23 Golden-winged Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 7 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 22 Northern Parula 3 Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Magnolia Warbler 9 Cape May Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 26 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 2 Black-and-white Warbler 5 American Redstart 23 Ovenbird 3 Northern Waterthrush 1 Mourning Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Canada Warbler 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) [All observations from 1135 to 1335. Non-warbler species removed from forwarded message] Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN 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] 22 warbler species at Park Point, Duluth, 9/7/2009
Despite weather conditions normally considered the antithesis of passerine fallouts at Park Point -- two consecutive days of clear skies, warm temperatures, and calm to light southerly winds -- this morning (7 September) from 0730 to 1230, Cameron Rutt and I witnessed the best migration of warblers thus far this fall at Park Point. Including an Orange-crowned Warbler at Lafayette Square seen later in the day, we tallied 22 warbler species and 4 vireo species. We encountered warblers at every stop (12th St public access, 13th St on the harbor side of Park Point, 16th St public access, Lafayette Square, Southworth Marsh, the bus turn around at 43rd St, and the Park Point Recreation Area). We did not hike past the airport, but it's likely that good numbers of warblers were there also. Highlights included two adult male Golden-wingeds and good numbers of Red-eyed Vireos (34, the state's 3rd highest fall count), Northern Parulas (2nd highest fall count), Yellow Warblers (2nd highest fall count), and American Redstarts (3rd highest fall count). At Southworth Marsh we had four parulas in view simultaneously. Of the 26 warbler species considered to be regular migrants at Duluth, we did not see Black-throated Blue, Pine, Connecticut, and Canada warblers. Here are today's totals for each of the 22 warbler species: 2 Golden-winged Warbler 23 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 42 Nashville Warbler 14 Northern Parula 36 Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 Magnolia Warbler 1 Cape May Warbler 70 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Blackburnian Warbler 3 Palm Warbler 2 Bay-breasted Warbler 4 Blackpoll Warbler 10 Black-and-white Warbler 71 American Redstart 3 Ovenbird 6 Northern Waterthrush 2 Mourning Warbler 21 Common Yellowthroat 3 Wilson's Warbler Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] jaegers, nighthawks, White-winged Dove in Duluth
During my lunch hour today (8/24), I watched two jaegers lunching with Ring-billed Gulls at the Park Point Recreation Area, Duluth. I first spotted one of the jaegers pursue a Ring-billed across the ball fields at the Recreation Area. From the Beach House, I refound what was presumably the same bird on Lake Superior and watched it for 30 minutes as it repeatedly harassed the Ring-billed Gulls. My views were so good that I could see the food morsels regurgitated by the gulls as the jaeger attacked. The jaeger eventually landed on the water and stayed there for about 10 minutes while preening. This was clearly an adult light-morph Parasitic Jaeger wearing a black beret, whitish face and neck, brownish mantle with darker folded wing tips, white belly and flanks with a smooth brown breast band, and sharply pointed central rectrices that extended just beyond the wing tips at rest. In flight, it showed a pale primary flash on both the dorsal and ventral wing surfaces. Its wingspan was less than any of the Ring-billeds that it pursued. After the bird finished preening and took flight again, I noticed a second jaeger flying right next to it. My views of the second bird were not satisfactory, but its wingspan appeared to be about the same as the first jaeger and in all probability, it was also a Parasitic. The second jaeger was a subadult with shorter, but still sharply pointed central rectrices. I was unable to refind either bird during an hour long search after work. This evening between 6:35 and 7:05 PM, I counted 2,668 Common Nighthawks migrating along the North Shore from the pedestrian overpass near the Rose Garden at Leif Erikson Park. I reluctantly stopped counting when a large mass of nighthawks reversed course and flew east, where they mingled with hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls and hundreds more nighthawks. Finally, I received a second hand report of a White-winged Dove seen flying west along the railroad right-of-way near 54th Ave East and Superior Street, Duluth. The bird could not be refound shortly after its discovery late this afternoon. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Laughing Gull in Houston County
Chris Wood just called to report his discovery of an adult Laughing Gull in Houston County earlier today. The bird was seen from the Highway 26 Overlook south of Brownsville. It was observed from 4:20 to 4:50 PM this afternoon (27 July) amongst a flock of several hundred Ring-billed Gulls. This Accidental species was last recorded in Minnesota at Grand Marais in November 1997. Chris also found a molting adult Tennessee Warbler in Houston County today -- most likely an early fall migrant -- and no fewer than 12 Prothonotary Warblers at the public access to the Mississippi River bottoms just north of the Iowa-Minnesota state line. Thanks to Chris for sharing these observations. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Harris's Sparrow, Big Stone County, 6/7/2009
Charles Mills, visiting our area from his home in Indiana, wishes to report a Harris's Sparrow at an abandoned farm along Big Stone CR 67, between CR 21 and CR 10. The median late south date for this species in Minnesota is 5/22. Although there are June records of this species as late as 6/19/2001, this represents a significant observation for this far south. Thanks to Mr. Mills for his report. -- Peder Svingen Duluth, MN Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
[mou-net] Red-throated Loon, Pomarine Jaeger, Thayer's and Glaucous gulls, Whimbrel
During a two hour-long “lake watch” today from Gull Bluff on Wisconsin Point, Douglas County, Wisconsin, I spotted a light-morph subadult Pomarine Jaeger chasing a Herring Gull approximately 500 yards north of my position. The jaeger continued heading towards me and briefly harassed two more Herring Gulls before turning east less than 250 yards away from my elevated position. I watched the bird through my spotting scope for a total of three minutes before it disappeared. A second jaeger may have been present in the area. The winds were NW to WNW at 20 mph gusting 30–35 mph, and the temperature barely reached 40º F by noon. I stayed at Gull Bluff for another hour and also checked various locations along Park Point and Wisconsin Point including the Superior Entry, but never refound the jaeger. This individual was probably a third-year bird since its blunt, rounded central rectrices were not twisted and did not extend as far as would be expected for an adult. It showed a complete but ragged chest band. Its wingspan was estimated to be the same as that of a Ring-billed Gull (the jaeger chased three different Herring Gulls, but ignored the Common Terns, Caspian Terns, and Ring-billed Gulls). If accepted by the WSO Bird Records Committee, this would provide one of the very few spring records of this species in our region. Previous reports include an adult seen by Scott and Ann Swengel in Douglas County, Wisconsin, 22 May 1997, and an adult or subadult seen by Bob Janssen, Don Bolduc, Ray Glassel, and Dick Ruhme at Park Point, Duluth, Minnesota, 20 May 1982. Also seen from Gull Bluff were an alternate-plumaged Red-throated Loon and an adult-cycle Thayer's Gull. A first-cycle Glaucous Gull was seen on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry. Five Whimbrels were near Lafayette Square on Park Point earlier in the day. Hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls and Common Terns were observed in the Duluth- Superior harbor. Gull Bluff can be reached by taking Moccasin Mike Road off US 2/US 53 on the east side of Superior. Proceed past the Superior Landfill on the unmarked gravel road and then take the first left towards the bluff overlooking Lake Superior. Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] 232 Long-tailed Ducks at Stoney Point, St. Louis County
Earlier this week, nearly all of Lake Superior was covered with ice as shown at: http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.cgi/modis?region=spage=1 Balmy temperatures and west winds today created open areas of water along the North Shore, which helped concentrate waterfowl in a few areas. Late this afternoon, I was fortunate to find no fewer than 232 Long-tailed Ducks on Lake Superior off Stoney Point, St. Louis County. The birds were initially in two large flocks which eventually coalesced into one noisy, bobbing raft of bathtub toys. Their loud vocalizations were easily heard from a distance of 1/4 mile. This is by far the largest flock of Long-taileds that I have seen in the Duluth area. Jan Green kindly supplied a compilation of records of this species from the North Shore and I combined those records with high counts from Karl Bardon's Occasional Paper from several years ago. As most of you know, the highest counts of Long-tailed Ducks in Minnesota are from Cook County. As far as I can determine, only one previous count from St. Louis County exceeds my total from today -- 250 on the Duluth CBC, 2 Jan 1960 (Flicker 32:83). There is also a count of 397 Long- taileds during a winter count from Fond du Lac (St. Louis County) to Knife River (Lake County), 2 January 1956 (Flicker 28:159). It is unknown whether either of these two totals consisted of single flocks, and the latter count may have included birds from two different counties. Here are the counts of ≥ 230 birds from these sources. I thank Jan Green and Karl Bardon for compiling these data. 1000s fall 1948 17 mi NE Grand Marais Abbott, SR 21:115 1,000+ 12-Feb 1961 Tofte-Grand Marais, Cook County Green 1975 800 (one of 17 flocks in two days) 12-Feb 1950 near Cascade River S.P., Cook County Barrett 1950 750 19-Feb 1949 Cook County Hayward 1949 700 Feb 1948 Gooseberry Falls S.P., Cook County Hayward 1949 700 Feb 1948 near Two Harbors, Lake County Hayward 1949 500 appr. 25 Dec 1952 within 20 mi of Grand Marais Hanlon et al., SR 25:39 452 8-Dec 1999 Cascade River to Hovland, Cook County Bardon, SR 72:146 348 16-Dec 1995 Grand Marais CBC SR 68:146 300+ late Dec 1984 Cook County Hoffman, SR 57:124 300 28-Nov 1981 Cook County LaFond, SR 54:117 300 11-Nov 1965 Cook County Allin, SR 38:49 250 15-Feb 1964 3 locations, Lake County Green, pers. records 250 2-Jan 1960 Duluth CBC fide G. Kuyava, Flicker 32:83 233 28-Dec 1956 Grand Marais CBC Flicker 30:95 232 6-Mar 2009 Stoney Point, St. Louis County Svingen, SR * -- Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Reposting Long-tailed Duck records
Apologies for the hard to read formatting in my recent posting. SR=Seasonal Report in The Loon. Here are the data arranged in columns: count -- date -- location -- reference. 1000s fall 1948 17 mi NE Grand Marais Abbott, SR 21:115 1,000+ 12-Feb 1961 Tofte-Grand Marais, Cook County Green 1975 800 12-Feb 1950 near Cascade River S.P., Cook County Barrett 1950 750 19-Feb 1949 Cook County Hayward 1949 700 Feb 1948Gooseberry Falls S.P., Cook County Hayward 1949 700 Feb 1948near Two Harbors, Lake County Hayward 1949 500 appr. 25 Dec 1952 within 20 mi of Grand Marais Hanlon et al., SR 25:39 452 8-Dec 1999 Cascade River to Hovland, Cook County Bardon, SR 72:146 348 16-Dec 1995 Grand Marais CBCSR 68:146 300+late Dec 1984 Cook County Hoffman, SR 57:124 300 28-Nov 1981 Cook County LaFond, SR 54:117 300 11-Nov 1965 Cook County Allin, SR 38:49 250 15-Feb 1964 3 locations, Lake County Green, pers. records 250 2-Jan 1960 Duluth CBC fide G. Kuyava Flicker 32:83 233 28-Dec 1956 Grand Marais CBCFlicker 30:95 232 6-Mar 2009 Stoney Point, St. Louis County Svingen, SR * -- Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] North Shore Iceland Gull and Great Black-backed Gull
A first-cycle Iceland Gull and two Glaucous Gulls were among the flock of Herring Gulls at Kendall's Smoke House in Knife River, Lake County, this afternoon. Based on plumage, the Iceland Gull appeared to be the same individual seen earlier in the month at Canal Park and 27th Ave West in Duluth. The fourth-cycle Great Black-backed Gull that has been seen regularly at Canal Park and 27th Ave West in Duluth all month was present today at the mouth of the Talmadge River, Lakewood Township. This bird would have been visible from the house where Kim Eckert lived about 20 years ago... Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Barrow's Goldeneye, Iceland and Great Black-backed Gulls in Duluth
Noteworthy sightings in Duluth, Sunday (2/1): The adult male Barrow's Goldeneye was present most of the afternoon off 21st Ave East, Duluth. A first-cycle Iceland Gull and a third- or fourth-cycle Great Black- backed Gull were behind the WLSSD wastewater treatment plant off 27th Ave West, Duluth. Also there were one adult and two first-cycle Glaucous Gulls. A Gadwall was near the Aerial Lift Bridge at Canal Park. The Northern Hawk Owl reported by Debbie Waters et al. was still on Stebner Road, just east of US 53. -- Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Townsend's Solitaire, Duluth
This morning (before the storm) I found a Townsend's Solitaire near the junction of London Road and Superior Street, Duluth. The bird was seen in front of the Yorkleigh apartment building and also across London Road near the pedestrian entrance to Leif Erickson Park. This is the same location where a solitaire was seen last January. -- Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Barrow's Goldeneye, Duluth
Mike Hendrickson just called to report a male Barrow's Goldeneye near 21st Ave East, Duluth. The bird was in a small patch of open water with a flock of Common Goldeneyes. To reach this area, take the 21st Ave East exit off I-35 and turn right at the stop sign. Follow the road as it curves around to another stop sign and turn right again. The goldeneyes were described as being just west of the Beacon Point condominiums. Based on plumage characteristics, Mike thought that this was the same adult male first found at Park Point in early November. -- Peder Svingen Duluth, MN 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] Barrow's Goldeneye still present in Duluth
Chris Edwardson and I refound the male Barrow's Goldeneye in the Duluth harbor today (11/8) from 33rd Street on Park Point. Two Surf Scoters and one White-winged Scoter were still present in the harbor, and a first-cycle Glaucous Gull was at Canal Park. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Long-billed Murrelet, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-throated and Pacific Loons at Park Point
At 11:05 AM today (11/4/2008), I found a murrelet on Lake Superior,
~350 yards ESE of the viewing platform just south of the ballfields at
the Park Point Recreation Area. The lake surface was perfectly calm at
the time and the bird was swimming steadily towards the SE. At 11:25
AM, it started diving and moving even farther away from my position
and by 11:35 AM, I could no longer find it. The bird had a black cap
and black nape, and dark gray (blackish) upperparts except for two
elongated white patches on its scapulars/wing coverts. Its throat and
breast were gleaming white. Its bill was held above horizontal at all
times and appeared to be dark, but I could not be sure of its bill
color and could not see fine details of its facial pattern, e.g.,
whether or not it showed white eye crescents.
I did not have any field guides or other references with me at the
time, but soon realized that this could only be a Long-billed/Marbled
Murrelet. Long-billed Murrelet was formerly referred to as the
Asiatic race of the Marbled Murrelet, but was returned to full
species status several years ago. For further information, see
http://www.oceanwanderers.com/LongbillMurrelet.html
. Long-billed Murrelet has established a pattern of vagrancy to the
interior of North America {Mlodinow, S.G. 1997. The Long-billed
Murrelet (Brachyramphus perdix) in North America. Birding 29(6):
460-475). If confirmed by the MOU Records Committee, this would
represent the first state record of this species.
Don Kienholz, Mike Hendrickson, and Jan John Green arrived before I
had to return to work and refound the bird, but it had moved a
considerable distance from its original position and by that time was
at least 800 yards away. Fortunately, the Benson family, Anthony
Hertzel, and Sparky Stensaas hiked past the airport on Park Point and
refound the bird much closer to shore and in good light during the mid-
afternoon. Anthony is confident that the bird is indeed a Long-billed
Murrelet and Sparky has posted photos at
http://www.stoneridgepress.com/Murrelet.htm
. Mike Hendrickson said that the bird was still visible at 4:00 PM,
but after that time it became increasingly overcast with rain showers,
wind, and poor visibility on Park Point.
Other birds of interest at Park Point today:
Barrow's Goldeneye -- adult male still present in Duluth harbor just
south of the bus turnaround at 43rd Street;
Red-throated Loon -- two at the murrelet location;
Pacific Loon -- one at the murrelet location and one seen flying
towards Canal Park (chin strap and vent strap seen in flight);
Surf and White-winged Scoters -- with the flock of goldeneyes.
--
Peder H. Svingen
Duluth, MN
[mou] Duluth and North Shore, 11/1/2008
This morning, I spotted an adult male Barrow's Goldeneye among a flock of Common Goldeneye and other divers in the Duluth harbor between 31st and 32nd Street. After about 45 minutes, it flew towards the Recreation Area and was refound by Mike Hendrickson near the bus turnaround at 43rd Street. We also saw a Western Grebe, redpolls, and White-winged Crossbills at the Recreation Area, and all three species of scoters in the harbor. An adult Red-throated Loon was on Lake Superior between 12th Street and 16th Street. Kim Eckert and Jim Lind are with a group along the North Shore this weekend. They refound the Summer Tanager in Two Harbors at a new location (South Avenue and First Street). They also found a Red- throated Loon in Agate Bay near the ore docks. -- Peder Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Harlequin Duck, Red-throated Loons at Park Point, Duluth
Sunday (10/26) Mike Hendrickson and I observed the following birds of interest on Lake Superior: Female/immature Harlequin Duck between 22nd Street and 31st Street (Lafayette Square) on Park Point; Two adult Red-throated Loons between the Recreation Area and Sky Harbor Airport; Adult Thayer's Gull on Minnesota side of the Superior Entry (another adult was at the Superior Landfill). Friday (10/24) while it was raining, I found two Pacific Loons and one juvenile Red-throated Loon on Lake Superior between the Recreation Area and Sky Harbor Airport, and another juvenile Red-throated at Lafayette Square. These four loons could not be refound the next morning. Thus, at least four different Red-throated Loons have been recently seen in Duluth. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Cattle Egret at Lester River mouth, Duluth
Early this afternoon, Kim Eckert found a Cattle Egret perched on rocks near the information booth at the mouth of the Lester River in Duluth. This location is along London Road, just southwest of Brighton Beach. The bird was still present at 2:30 PM. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] 17 warbler species at Park Point Recreation Area, Duluth, 9/14/08
Tim Dawson and I found 17 species of warbler in about an hour of birding in the rain this afternoon at the Park Point Recreation Area. We could not refind Mike's phalarope, but the conditions were poor for scanning the lake. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-reply at ebird.org Date: September 14, 2008 7:34:33 PM CDT To: psvingen at d.umn.edu Subject: eBird Report - Park Point Recreation Area , 9/14/08 Location: Park Point Recreation Area Observation date: 9/14/08 Notes: Totals for one hour of birding the Park Point Recreation Area by Peder H. Svingen and Tim Dawson. Light rain and northeast winds 10-15 mph. Number of warbler species: 17 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 7 Northern Parula 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Magnolia Warbler 8 Cape May Warbler 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 33 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 5 Bay-breasted Warbler 2 Blackpoll Warbler 4 Black-and-white Warbler 5 American Redstart 47 Common Yellowthroat 2 Wilson's Warbler 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080914/29637c1e/attachment.html
[mou] 23 warbler species at Duluth, 9/12/2008
Friday (12 September) was my best warbler day so far this fall in Duluth. A total of 253 individuals of 23 species was counted (did not see Golden-winged, Black-throated Blue, or Connecticut warblers). Except for an Orange-crowned Warbler at Indian Point, and a Northern Waterthrush and Mourning Warbler at 40th Ave West, all of the warbler species were found on Park Point between the bus turnaround and the Beach House at the Recreation Area. Also seen were 5 species of vireo and dozens of Chipping and White-throated sparrows. 33 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 22 Nashville Warbler 2 Northern Parula 1 Yellow Warbler 12 Chestnut-sided Warbler 20 Magnolia Warbler 2 Cape May Warbler 14 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 44 Palm Warbler 6 Bay-breasted Warbler 11 Blackpoll Warbler 15 Black-and-white Warbler 45 American Redstart 5 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Mourning Warbler 8 Common Yellowthroat 4 Wilson's Warbler 1 Canada Warbler -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Red-throated Loons at Park Point, Duluth
Two adult Red-throated Loons in alternate plumage were observed on Lake Superior early this morning (26 June) from the Beach House at the Park Point Recreation Area in Duluth. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] 8 Red-thr Loons/W. Grebe--Park Pt Duluth
Unaware of Sparky's report, I observed 9 Red-throated Loons on Lake Superior off Park Point this morning: 4 at Lafayette Square (9:10 to 9:40 AM), 3 at 43rd Street (9:55 to 10:10 AM), and 2 from the viewing platform just north of Sky Harbor Airport (10:40 to 10:50 AM). In addition to the Western Grebe, which ranged between Lafayette Square and the Beach House at the Recreation Area, there was an Eared Grebe in alternate plumage at Lafayette Square this morning. By mid- afternoon, the Eared Grebe had moved to 22nd Street and a pair of Horned Grebes in alternate plumage were at Lafayette Square. Also noteworthy were a Franklin's Gull at Interstate Island and a Ruddy Turnstone standing on the seaplane dock at Sky Harbor Airport. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Jun 8, 2008, at 9:14 AM, sparky stensaas wrote: Sunday 6:45-8:15am Park Point Duluth Great viewing on the Lake...Flat light, calm water. 1 WESTERN GREBE on the Lake just out from the bathhouse 9 Dunlin on the ballfield 8 RED-THROATED LOON out from Lafayette Community Center (31st St.) (Very close to shore initially...I got one photo with 6 in one frame! The flock of seven then flew out further in the Lake. A lone bird was closer to Duluth. I first spotted a bigger flock from about two miles away and dismissed them as cormorants...there may have been 15-20 Red-thr Loons) Sparky Stensaas 2515 Garthus Road Wrenshall, MN 55797 218.341.3350 cell sparkystensaas at hotmail.com www.stoneridgepress.com www.kollathstensaas.com www.sparkyphotos.com This mailing list is sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Mailing list membership available on-line at http://moumn.org/subscribe.html . - To unsubscribe send a blank email to mou-net-request at moumn.org with a subject of unsubscribe. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080608/7bb6e81f/attachment.html
[mou] Shorebirds and Franklin's Gulls at Park Point, Duluth
Shorebird numbers and diversity changed significantly by the afternoon today (6 June). Tthe two Franklin's Gulls stayed together and both were wearing adult- like plumage. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-reply at ebird.org Date: June 6, 2008 6:57:01 PM CDT To: psvingen at d.umn.edu Subject: eBird Report - Park Point--Dune Bridge near airport , 6/6/08 Location: Park Point--Dune Bridge near airport Observation date: 6/6/08 Number of shorebird species: 10 Black-bellied Plover 1 Killdeer 3 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Ruddy Turnstone 4 Red Knot 2 Sanderling 85 Semipalmated Sandpiper 63 White-rumped Sandpiper 9 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Dunlin 11 Franklin's Gull 2 Ring-billed Gull 300 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) On Jun 6, 2008, at 11:56 AM, Michael Hendrickson wrote: Highlights: - 2 Red Knots on the lakeside beach near the airport - 1 Black-bellied Plover - 12 Dunlins - 10 Sanderlings - 20 Semipalmated Sandpipers * This was one flock on the beach SNIP Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ Blog: http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/ --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Mailing list membership available on-line at http://moumn.org/subscribe.html . - To unsubscribe send a blank email to mou-net-request at moumn.org with a subject of unsubscribe. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080606/b8d03785/attachment.html
[mou] Red Knots in Duluth....
Mike Hendrickson and I saw the two Red Knots at about 4:00 PM today on the bay side of the Park Point Recreation Area (thanks, Shawn) and then walked to the lakeside beach, where we found a third Red Knot standing side by side with an American Golden-Plover -- both birds were wearing full nuptial plumage. We saw several other shorebird species in the area, including a flyby Black-bellied Plover, and about a dozen Dunlin and a late Least Sandpiper. Earlier today, I saw three Black-bellied Plovers and two Willets at 40th Ave West, and four Ruddy Turnstones at Interstate Island, for a total of 12 species of shorebirds in Duluth 5/29. Also at Interstate Island early this morning was a Franklin's Gull -- this species is a rare migrant at Duluth. Several observers saw up to four Red-throated Loons and the alternate- plumaged Pacific Loon on Lake Superior today, at various locations between the 12th Street public access and the Beach House at the Recreation Area on Park Point. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On May 29, 2008, at 2:19 PM, SCmzd at aol.com wrote: This morning was really great at Minnesota Point in Duluth, MN. For me, the Red Knot has been a kind of holy grail bird for some time now. I've longed to see one but was always a day late and so on.Well at last, through the persistence of time and a blessing from the God above, I observed two beautiful red knots at Minnesota Point. The birds foraged on the bay side shoreline in between the airport and the soccer fields for some time this morning. Truly special:) If you like red knots, and you better!, I will post a picture of one of the birds in the showcase section of MOU. There were many birders who observed the red knots. There were also several other cool species at the point today, but for me, it was all about the knots. Happy Birding, Shawn Zierman. --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Mailing list membership available on-line at http://moumn.org/subscribe.html . - To unsubscribe send a blank email to mou-net-request at moumn.org with a subject of unsubscribe. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080529/6d5eaae8/attachment.html
[mou] Duluth update for Hawk Ridge Birdathon
Birds of local interest seen today (16 May) in Duluth: Greater White-fronted Goose -- 2 at Interstate Island, early AM; Am. White Pelican -- 10 between Interstate Island and 27th Ave West, early AM; Am. White Pelican -- one on Lake Superior at Park Point, moved between 12th Ave and Recreation Area; Semipalmated Plover -- 3 at 22nd St access to beach, Park Point; Willet -- one at Interstate Island, mid-morning; Ruddy Turnstone -- 3 at Interstate Island, early AM; Red Knot -- 2 at Interstate Island, late afternoon; Sanderling -- Park Point and Interstate Island, early afternoon; Laughing/Franklin's Gull -- one at mouth of Miller Creek, 27th Ave West, mid-morning only and not refound the rest of the day; Indigo Bunting -- male on the ballfield with flock of Chipping Sparrows at Lafayette Square (31st St, Park Point) for the third consecutive afternoon. There was frequent turnover at Interstate Island and 27th Ave West, though 400+ Bonaparte's Gulls were at the latter location all day. I checked Interstate Island four different times throughout the day and never saw the same shorebirds from one visit to the next. The Eared Grebe mentioned on the Duluth RBA has not been refound since 14 May. Good luck to all of the Birdathon teams tomorrow! -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] 20 Red-throated Loons, Little Gull, Piping Plover at Duluth
For most of the afternoon today (6 May), light winds and good lighting produced excellent viewing of birds on Lake Superior from the public access sites on Park Point. Between 5:20 and 6:10 PM, I watched 19 Red- throated Loons from the Beach House at the Park Point Recreation Area. The birds were far enough off shore to require a spotting scope, but the excellent viewing conditions left no doubt as to their identity. At almost the same time, Kim Eckert found a Red-throated Loon off 31st Street (Lafayette Square), making a total of 20 Red-throateds off Park Point this evening. I found an adult Little Gull among a large gathering of Bonaparte's Gulls on Lake Superior off 22nd Street in the late afternoon; it was refound by Kim Eckert off Canal Park at about 7:00 PM, where most of the gulls seen earlier between 12th Street and the Recreation Area had assembled into a noisy congregation. A record high spring migration total of 4,153 Bonaparte's Gulls was carefully counted by groups of 10 at Park Point between 3:15 and 6:15 PM today (6 May). Not included in this total were flocks of 775 Bonaparte's seen earlier in the day near the mouth of Miller Creek off 27th Ave West and 943 Bonaparte's on the back side of Hearding Island, since they were assumed to be part of the evening congregation at Canal Park. Kim and I estimated that more than 3,000 Bonaparte's Gulls gathered at Canal Park in the early evening -- not including a large flock that passed overhead. Other highlights at Park Point: Horned Grebe -- total of 902, relatively late peak count Piping Plover -- unbanded bird still present at 22nd Street access Willet -- three between 12th Street and 22nd Street Ruddy Turnstone -- one at 22nd Street access Sanderling -- three at 22nd Street access Forster's Tern -- two at Recreation Area (Common Tern, which has a median arrival date of 1 May in northern Minnesota, has yet to be found at Duluth this spring). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Duluth highlights
Though passerine migration continues to be behind schedule in Duluth, clearing conditions produced a good movement of waterbirds and raptors today. Most of the thousands of scaup and hundreds of Horned Grebes seen off Park Point over the past couple of weeks either migrated out of the area or moved too far out on Lake Superior to be seen from shore. Today's total of 237 Red-necked Grebes was unusually high for early May (peak migration normally occurs during the third week of April at Duluth). At the West Skyline Hawk Count site near Enger Tower, at least 6 Osprey and 125 Broad-winged Hawks were counted in about an hour. Species of interest today (4 May) in Duluth: Black Scoter -- female between Interstate Island and 27th Ave West Red-necked Grebe -- 237 (211 of these in a loose flock off Fitger's parking ramp) Piping Plover -- unbanded bird with complete breast band at 22nd Street, 1715 to 1735 Willet -- 3 on beach between Beach House and Sky Harbor Airport Thayer's Gull -- first-cycle at Lafayette Square Great Black-backed Gull -- second-cycle at Interstate Island, 0940 to 1030 Caspian Tern -- 2 at Interstate Island Forster's Tern -- 2 adults near the Beach House at the Recreation Area Yesterday (3 May), I saw 2 Willets, several first-cycle Glaucous Gulls, and 3 Thayer's Gulls at Wisconsin Point; one of the Glaucous Gulls and a second-cycle Thayer's were seen on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Duluth highlights 4/27/2008
Am. White Pelican -- one at Perch Lake, near Gary-New Duluth. Hermit Thrush -- *274* This total includes Southworth Marsh (55), Park Point Recreation Area (73), Western Waterfront Trail at Indian Point (63), and other locations on Park Point, Duluth. This represents the second highest count for the state (4,000 were estimated by Jan Green along a 10 mile stretch of state highway 61, St. Louis County, 29 April 1966). Bohemian Waxwing -- One late migrant at Southworth Marsh, Park Point, Duluth. Vesper Sparrow -- One near the Duluth Rowing Club, Park Point. Fox Sparrow -- *192* This total includes Southworth Marsh (107), Park Point Recreation Area (21), Western Waterfront Trail at Indian Point (49), and other locations on Park Point, Duluth. A single flock of 66 birds was included in the total of 107 at Southworth Marsh. All birds were individually counted and care was taken to avoid counting each individual more than once. This represents the second highest count for the state (300 were reported by Jan Green at Duluth, St. Louis County, 21 April 1970). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Fwd: eBird Report - Park Point, Duluth, 4/22/08
Good numbers of waterfowl were found along Park Point yesterday, both in the harbor and on Lake Superior. Most of the counting was done by groups of ten, and it took me about four hours to complete the survey. The total of 3,016 Greater Scaup is the second highest count for the state (5,400 were at Duluth 17 April 2002, Loon 74:202) and the Red- necked Grebe total is the fourth highest on record. Totals for waterfowl, loons, and grebes are shown below. Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-reply at ebird.org Date: April 23, 2008 6:32:12 AM CDT To: psvingen at d.umn.edu Subject: eBird Report - Park Point Recreation Area , 4/22/08 Location: Park Point Recreation Area Observation date: 4/22/08 Number of waterfowl species: 20 Canada Goose X Wood Duck 1 Gadwall 1 American Wigeon 34 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 219 Blue-winged Teal 8 Northern Shoveler 4 Northern Pintail 2 Green-winged Teal 173 Canvasback12 Redhead 355 Ring-necked Duck 1,186 Greater Scaup 3,016 Lesser Scaup 1,975 Greater/Lesser Scaup 611 Bufflehead 71 Common Goldeneye 444 Hooded Merganser 3 Common Merganser 4 Red-breasted Merganser18 Common Loon 26 Pied-billed Grebe 10 Horned Grebe 481 Red-necked Grebe 393 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080423/da026521/attachment-0001.html
[mou] 7 spp. of gulls at Wisconsin Point
The adult Slaty-backed Gull was not refound at Wisconsin Point either today or yesterday (last seen 4/12/2008). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-reply at ebird.org Date: April 19, 2008 6:36:44 PM CDT To: psvingen at d.umn.edu Subject: eBird Report - Allouez Bay, Wisconsin Point, Douglas County, WI 4/19/08 Location: Allouez Bay Observation date: 4/19/08 Observers:Peder H. Svingen and Jeanie M. Joppru Number of species: 7 (non-larids deleted from forwarded message) Ring-billed Gull 1200 Herring Gull 4000 Thayer's Gull 3 One adult, one second-cycle, and one first- cycle. Another first-cycle THGU was seen at Barker's Island, Douglas County, WI on the way back to Duluth. Iceland Gull 1 Second-cycle Iceland Gull observed for 20 minutes through spotting scope from distance of only 50 yards. Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Adult graellsii still present. Glaucous Gull 6 One second-cycle and five first-cycle individuals. Great Black-backed Gull 1 First-cycle bird (note that a second-cycle individual was seen here the previous day; both birds have been seen previously in the area). This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080419/44e1380f/attachment.html
[mou] GBBG, TOSO in Duluth; SBGU, LBBG at Wisconsin Point
Noteworthy sightings today (12 April) in Duluth: Great Black-backed Gull (GBBG) -- second-cycle bird at Canal Park Townsend's Solitaire (TOSO) -- Park Point Recreation Area Today's gull counts on Allouez Bay at Wisconsin Point: Ring-billed Gull (RBGU) -- 1,175 Herring Gull (HERG) -- 3,960 Thayer's Gull (THGU) -- 1 second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull (LBBG) -- adult Slaty-backed Gull (SBGU) -- adult Glaucous Gull (GLGU) -- 7 first-cycle, 2 second-cycle, 2 adult By the way, alpha code abbreviations for bird species can be found at: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/manual/aspeclst.htm#A -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Duluth / Wisconsin Point
Noteworthy migrants yesterday (4 April) in Duluth: Canvasback -- Duluth harbor, near Interstate Island Trumpeter Swan -- 2 still present, MN 23 bridge, Fond du Lac Eastern Phoebe -- Indian Point Song Sparrow -- Becks Road, Gary-New Duluth Noteworthy migrants today (5 April) in Duluth: Cackling Goose -- one near 27th Ave West Black Scoter -- still present, 27th Ave West Long-tailed Duck -- between Interstate Island and 27th Ave West Red-necked Grebe -- two off 22nd St, Park Point Horned Grebe -- two off Lafayette Square, Park Point Killdeer -- Port Terminal Gulls were gathering today at Wisconsin Point / Gull Bluff / Superior Landfill, Douglas County, Wisconsin: Ring-billed Gull -- total of 1,406 (also, 4,000 were counted at Interstate Island) Herring Gull -- total of 3,290 Thayer's Gull -- 2 adults, 1 first-cycle Iceland Gull -- 1 adult, 1 first-cycle Slaty-backed Gull -- adult on ice at Allouez Bay Glaucous Gull -- 14 (5 adult, 2 third-cycle, 1 second-cycle, 6 first- cycle) This was my first sighting of the Slaty-backed since 14 March at Wisconsin Point and 15 March in the Duluth harbor. The bird now shows almost no streaking on its head and neck, but otherwise appears to be the same individual seen in the area since late December. Also seen on Allouez Bay this afternoon was a potential Glaucous-winged Gull, though at this point a hybrid cannot be ruled out. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Wisconsin Point -- 3 species of dark-mantled gull
Gulls were gathering again today at Wisconsin Point, Douglas County. This area can be reached by driving US 2/US 53 to the eastern end of Superior, then turn left at the sign for Wisconsin Point / Moccasin Mike Road. Most of the birds were on the ice of Allouez Bay as the winds raged ENE 25-30 gusting to 40 mph on Lake Superior. I was unable to refind either of the two Iceland Gulls seen here yesterday. The following counts include birds seen at the landfill or on Allouez Bay, and were obtained between 12:15 and 2:40 PM. Have three species of dark-mantled gull ever been seen together before in the Western Great Lakes region? Ring-billed Gull -- 317 Herring Gull -- 3,640 (90% adults) Thayer's Gull -- 3 adults, 1 second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull -- adult graellsii Slaty-backed Gull -- adult on ice at Allouez Bay for at least two hours Glaucous Gull -- 15 (4 adult, 1 third-cycle, 1 second-cycle, 9 first- cycle) Great Black-backed Gull -- first-cycle -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Slaty-backed Gull in Duluth
At 10:10 AM this morning (Saturday, 3/15), I found the adult Slaty- backed Gull and 31 Herring Gulls standing together on the ice on the Minnesota side of Interstate Island in the Duluth harbor. After about 5 minutes of watching the Slaty-backed Gull preen, the gulls were flushed by an eagle. The flock flew directly towards me and came within about 50 yards of my position before turning back towards Interstate Island. The definitive field marks of this species, including the string of pearls formed by subapical white tongue tips on p5-p8, dark slate gray mantle, broad white trailing edge to the inner wing, and large white mirror on p10 and smaller white mirror on p9, were well seen in flight. The gulls eventually landed on the south side of Interstate Island (i.e., the Wisconsin side of the state line) and bathed in the open water that had just been created by the Coast Guard cutter, Alder, as it broke ice for the departure of the Mesabi Miner from Midwest Energy Resources in Superior, the shipping season's first departure. The Slaty-backed Gull was still present when I left the area at 11:05 AM. To reach the pullout from which Interstate Island and the rest of this area can be scanned with a scope, take the Port Terminal exit off I-535 and turn right on a gravel road just past the cement plant. The road curves around to follow the shoreline; the pullout is on the left side just south of the cement plant. Yesterday (Friday, 3/14), I found 7 species of gulls at Wisconsin Point. About 700 gulls were at the landfill and the rest, including the Slaty-backed and Great Black-backed, were on the ice on the lake side of Wisconsin Point. The following counts combine birds at the landfill and on Lake Superior off Wisconsin Point during 2 hours and 10 minutes of counting at both locations. Except for the recently arrived Ring-billeds, most of these birds have been seen regularly at the landfill and/or in the Duluth-Superior harbor throughout the winter. Ring-billed Gull -- 4 adults Herring Gull -- 1,092 Thayer's Gull -- 2 adults, 1 first-cycle Iceland Gull -- 1 adult, 1 third-cycle Slaty-backed Gull -- 1 adult Glaucous Gull -- 17 individuals (5 adult, 2 third-cycle, 1 second- cycle, 9 first-cycle) Great Black-backed Gull -- 1 second-cycle -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Duluth update
The dark-mantled gull was seen again today on the ice near the WLSSD treatment plant in the Duluth harbor. I have now watched this gull for total of 3 hours and 15 minutes on four dates in January under the following conditions: Overcast, looking SE from 350 yards for 30 minutes on 10 January between 4:00 and 4:30 P.M. Clear skies, looking SW from 440 yards for one hour on 12 January between 9:45 and 10:45 A.M. Broken cirrus overcast with intermittent sun, looking WNW from 525 yards and looking SW from 350 yards for 45 minutes on 13 January between 10:25 and 11:10 A.M. Clear skies, looking W from 880 yards for one hour on 27 January between 10:50 and 11:50 A.M. This is most likely the adult Slaty-backed Gull first found and photographed by Karl Bardon at the Superior Landfill 21 December 2007 and is presumably the same individual photographed at the landfill yesterday by Joshua Christian (see his posting for links to photos). Unfortunately, the distances have been too far for me to detect the diagnostic string of pearls formed by white tongue tips on p5 - p8, and this bird has not established a predictable visitation pattern of time and location in the Duluth Harbor. Also seen among the flock of nearly 600 gulls near the WLSSD treatment plant today were 11 Glaucous Gulls, a second-cycle Great Black-backed Gull, and a first-cycle Thayer's Gull. Kim Eckert spotted a third- cycle Iceland Gull and another Thayer's Gull near WLSSD shortly after noon, and the Great Black-backed was refound at Canal Park between 2:45 and 3:00 PM. From the road outside of the fence at the Superior Landfill between 1:00 and 2:00 PM today, I counted 620 Herring Gulls, 7 Glaucous Gulls, and an adult Thayer's Gull. At 4:30 PM today, I found two Snowy Owls along Airport Road -- one perched on top of a tall chimney near the federal prison and one perched on top of a telephone pole near the NRRI building -- which might explain why various groups of birders have reported this species at different locations near the Duluth Airport. As mentioned previously, use extreme caution in this highly sensitive / high security area and obey all No Parking / No Standing signs. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080127/98a57409/attachment-0001.html
[mou] Duluth gulls
At 9:30 AM this morning (12 January), I found an extraordinary number of gulls on the ice in the Duluth harbor and watched them for about an hour and a half, before they were flushed by a ship departing its berth in the Port Terminal. Most of the flock (but not the dark- mantled gull mentioned below) subsequently returned, and hundreds of gulls were still present until about 3:00 PM. The flock was visible from the pedestrian walkway west of the Aerial Lift Bridge in Canal Park, and along Minnesota Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets on Park Point; gulls could also be seen from Harbor Drive along the southeast side of the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC), but the lighting was poor from that perspective. Herring Gull -- 1,540 (carefully counted by groups of 10) Thayer's Gull -- one first cycle and one or two adults Iceland Gull -- inexplicably absent (3 were at the Superior landfill in Dec) Glaucous Gull -- 18 (11 first-cycle, one second-cycle, 2 third-cycle, 4 adults) Great Black-backed Gull -- second-cycle bird found by Kim Eckert in the early afternoon The highlight was an adult dark-mantled gull with rasberry pink legs and feet, grayish-brown streaking on its head and neck, dark slate gray mantle, white scapular crescent, and broad white tertial crescent. Its size was similar to a large Herring Gull (HERG), i.e., larger than an average sized HERG but not as big as the largest HERG. This bird was first found by Jim Lind late in the afternoon on the 10th, and it was watched by Jim, Mike Hendrickson, and myself between 4:00 and 4:30 PM that day. Digiscoped images taken by Jim Lind on the 10th, including two remarkable in flight images taken late in the day with a handheld digital camera and a Leica Televid 77mm spotting scope under overcast skies, and another set of images taken today, are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cochon/ Although we were unable to see its wing tips well enough in flight on the 10th to make a definitive identification, this bird shows some characteristics of Slaty-backed Gull. [Note that an adult Slaty-backed Gull was photographed by Karl Bardon at the Superior, Wisconsin, landfill on 21 December 2007 -- I have not seen Karl's images.] Great Black-backed Gull is apparently ruled out by overall size, bill size and shape, and leg color. Western Gull has a larger, bright yellow bill, and normally appears white-headed by this time of year. Kelp Gull and Yellow-footed Gull have yellowish legs, and also look more white-headed in basic plumage. Hybrid gulls also must be considered. Today's observations were under much better light conditions, looking southwest between 9:45 and 10:45 AM under overcast skies, but unfortunately, the bird was not seen in flight or extending its wings, and the distance was approximately 350 yards. Also posted at the same web page mentioned earlier, are images of an adult Slaty-backed from the Superior, Wisconsin landfill in November 2006. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] request for documentation of rarities, Fall 2007
Now that 2007 is behind us, this would be a good time to remind observers of Fall 2007 reports of unusual species which still need to be documented. Many of these were entered online at the MOU website or posted on the mou-net listserve. While birders are certainly free to include anything they wish on their personal and unpublished lists, sightings of Accidental, Casual and rare-Regular species can only be published by the MOU and included in its archives of bird records when accompanied by documentation. If you were an observer of any of the reports listed below and are interested in providing documentation, the MOU would appreciate your assistance. In this list, Casual and Accidental species are shown in upper case and rare-Regular speces are shown in lower case. Also, documentation is requested for any occurrence of an Accidental, Casual or rare-Regular species not listed below, or for any species in an unusual location or at an unexpected date. Please contact me if you have questions about whether or not details are needed. BARROW'S GOLDENEYE 10/21 Cook (Grand Portage) Red-throated Loon 11/3 Crow Wing (Garrison) Pacific Loon 10/20 Mille Lacs NEOTROPIC CORMORANT 8/1-2 Lac Qui Parle (Bolson Slough) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT 9/1 Lac Qui Parle (S end Lac Qui Parle Lake) Plegadis ibis sp. 8/29 Swift (3 at N end Lac Qui Parle Lake) Plegadis ibis sp. 9/3 Big Stone (5 in Toqua Twp., section 11) Plegadis ibis sp. 9/10 Lac Qui Parle (Perry Twp., section 7) Plegadis ibis sp. 9/28 Jackson (Sioux Valley Twp.) Prairie Falcon 9/3-4 Traverse (Croke Twp.) Prairie Falcon 9/16 Stearns (Greenwald WTP) Prairie Falcon 10/6 Yellow Medicine (near Porter) Prairie Falcon 10/20 Clay (near Buffalo River S.P.) Prairie Falcon 11/10, 11/14 Lac Qui Parle (Perry Twp.) WESTERN SANDPIPER 9/3 Traverse (Croke Twp.) White-rumped Sandpiper 8/8 Hennepin RED PHALAROPE 9/3 Big Stone (Graceville) RED PHALAROPE 9/10 Yellow Medicine (Miller Richter WMA) Little Gull 10/16 Cass (Walker WTP) Little Gull 10/16-20 Cass (Cass Lake WTP) BLACK-HEADED GULL 9/28 Jackson (second adult at north end Spirit Lake) MEW GULL 10/21 Lake of the Woods (Rainy River) Thayer's Gull 11/15 Cass (Walker) Great Black-backed Gull 10/30 Lac Qui Parle (Big Stone NWR) SABINE'S GULL 8/31 Marshall (Agassiz NWR) SABINE'S GULL 9/11 Todd (Lake Osakis) SABINE'S GULL 9/14 Beltrami (Lake Bemidji) SABINE'S GULL 9/17 Lac Qui Parle (Perry WMA) SABINE'S GULL 9/18 Lac Qui Parle (Lac Qui Parle Lake, CR 33 just SE of CR 26) SABINE'S GULL 9/22 Swift/Lac Qui Parle (Lac Qui Parle Lake) SABINE'S GULL 9/26 Big Stone (West Toqua Lake) SABINE'S GULL 9/28 Jackson (north end Spirit Lake) SABINE'S GULL 9/28 St. Louis (7 birds, Duluth) SABINE'S GULL 10/3 Yellow Medicine (Curtis Lake) SABINE'S GULL 10/4 Lincoln (Tyler WTP) WHITE-WINGED DOVE mid-August Stearns (near Clearwater) SAY'S PHOEBE 9/17 Lac Qui Parle (Lac Qui Parle WMA, CR 59, 0.5 mi N of CR 38) Kentucky Warbler 8/31 Blue Earth (Williams County Park) Western Tanager 9/20 Duluth (Canal Park) There are 4 ways to provide documentation: 1) The preferred method is to go to to the MOU website at http://moumn.org/ and highlight Reporting Birds, then click on Enter RQD Documentation to fill out a documentation form online. Or, (2) you can download the documentation form by clicking on Request for Documentation Form (pdf) at the MOU website. Or, (3) by e-mail or regular U.S. mail, send me as complete a description as possible of the bird, any field notes or photographs which were taken, a comparison of this bird with similar species, your experience with this and similar species, whether or not you knew it was unusual, if and when field guides were used or needed to identify the bird, the light conditions, distance involved, how long the bird was seen, and the optics used. Or, (4) by e-mail or regular mail, send me your mailing address, and I will send you an MOU documentation form which outlines the requested information for you to fill in. Again, seeing a rare bird and adding it to your personal list is certainly enjoyable in its own right, but when your sighting is also documented and sent in to the MOU it also serves as an important contribution to our knowledge of Minnesota bird distribution. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. On behalf of the MOU, thanks in advance for your help and your contribution to Minnesota ornithology! -- Peder H. Svingen Chairman, MOU Records Committee 2602 E. 4th Street Duluth, MN 55812 psvingen at d.umn.edu -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080102/e0f0e897/attachment-0001.html
[mou] Slaty-backed Gull at Superior, WI landfill
Approximately three hours of watching gulls from outside the fence at the Superior Landfill today (28 December 2007) revealed the following larids: Herring Gull -- 950 (counted by groups of 50 in flight; this was the highest total out of about 15 counts); Thayer's Gull -- 4 (one first-cycle, one second-cycle, 2 adults); Glaucous Gull -- 12 (5 first-cycle, 2 second-cycle, 2 third-cycle, 3 adults); Great Black-backed Gull -- one first-cycle. Prior to my arrival, Fr. Tom Margevicius saw a first-cycle Iceland Gull. The Slaty-backed Gull (see below) was not refound. Fr. Tom also mentioned that he found a Northern Hawk Owl yesterday along the Admiral Road (St. Louis County Road 788), about a mile north of the Sax Road (county road 28) in the Sax-Zim Bog. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Dec 21, 2007, at 5:37 PM, Karl Bardon wrote: I watched gulls at the Superior, Wisconsin landfill today from approximately 10:00-15:00 and saw the following: At least 680 Herring Gulls, eight Glaucous Gulls (5 first-cycle, 1 third-cycle, and 2 adults), seven Thayer?s Gulls (2 first-cycle, 2 second-cycle, 3 adults), and three Iceland Gulls (1 first-cycle, 1 third-cycle, and 1 adult). The number of birds (especially Herring Gulls) is likely much greater than posted, since there is a constant influx and outflux of gulls, and since I only counted the number of each age seen at one time, or new individuals that I could recognize based on plumage differences. The majority of gulls were identified in flight since the landfill is closed to the public and viewing can only be done from outside the fence. Also seen and photographed was an adult Slaty-backed Gull. The latter was studied off and on for several hours both perched and in flight, and showed the following: size of large Herring Gull with overall bulky structure and large bill, yellow irides, pink legs, heavy head streaking that formed a distinct bib, broad white tertial crescent, slate gray mantle, and a ?string of pearls? effect formed by white subapical tongue tips on primaries 6-8 (dorsally and ventrally). When the bird flew directly overhead, I was able to see a large white subapical mirror on primary 10 (the outermost), a moderate sized white window on primary 9, and subapical white tongue tips on primaries 6-8. When the bird was perched with the underside of primary 10 showing, this feather appeared medium gray except a large white subapical mirror, a narrow darksubterminal bar, small white apical spot, and a distinctly dark, narrow outer web. Karl Bardon
[mou] Duluth mystery falcon unmasked
http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl?rec_id=160 -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Inca Dove and Mr. Lind....
Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered also featured an update on this fall's Green-breasted Mango in Wisconsin. One of Jim Lind's photos and more about the Inca Dove can be found at the MPR website: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/11/13/incadove/ Go to the website and click on Listen to feature audio to hear the interview. Nicely done! -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Nov 13, 2007, at 7:55 PM, SCmzd at aol.com wrote: I usually don't post non bird sighting topics so forgive and bear with:)? I just had to share how cool it was and how impressed I was to hear Minnesota Public Radio doing an interview with Jim Lind tonight highlighting the Inca Dove now in Two Harbors.? Totally awesome, way to go Jim.? -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 839 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20071113/a3f02524/attachment.bin
[mou] 72 White-winged Scoters at the Superior Entry
This morning (21 October), I watched a flock of blackish ducks fly from the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry to the Wisconsin side of the Superior Entry on Lake Superior. They were obviously larger than scaup and their under bodies appeared all dark. As they got closer, I could clearly see large white patches on the secondaries of each bird and was able to see two white spots on the heads of many of the birds. As they flew past the mouth of the Superior Entry, I looked at each bird individually to make sure that no other species were present. About a dozen were bunched together, but the rest were strung out in a line, so I was able to obtain an accurate count -- and recounted them twice to make sure. This total of 72 White-winged Scoters represents the highest fall count of this species for Minnesota; there is a spring record of 150 White-winged Scoters in Cook County, 17 May 1975 (M. Carr, Loon 47:163). The Superior Entry divides Minnesota Point from Wisconsin Point, and the state line bisects the Entry. I was standing on the tip of Wisconsin Point at the time. To reach this location, drive through Superior on US 2 / US 53 and turn left on Moccasin Mike Road. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Pacific and Red-throated Loon still present at Park Point, Duluth
Between 5:00 and 5:15 PM on Monday, 8 October, I watched an adult Pacific Loon and a Red-throated Loon in basic plumage on Lake Superior, from the bath house at the Park Point Recreation Area. A Red-necked Grebe, several Red-breasted Mergansers, and several cormorants were also feeding offshore in the heavy surf. The Pacific Loon appeared to be the same individual found by Kim Eckert at the 12th Street public access on Park Point over the weekend. The Red-throated Loon was a different individual from either of the two Red-throateds recently observed at Canal Park and the 12th Street access. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Park Point Rec Area
Additional sightings at the Recreation Area today included six Black-bellied Plovers and a first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull working the beach between the bathhouse and the airport between 11:55 AM and 12:25 PM. Not including junco or longspurs, I was able to find 10 species of sparrow this afternoon. At about 5:15 PM, a White-winged Scoter and a Harlequin Duck flew north along Park Point and then circled around to head back towards Wisconsin Point. An adult Thayer's Gull was at Interstate Island. Also this afternoon at the Recreation Area, Kim Eckert and Butch Ukura refound the bird identified last weekend as a juvenile Gyrfalcon. It was still hunting along the beach when I left the bathhouse at 5:30 PM. Several observers last weekend and those of us watching the bird today noted its relatively small size -- small enough that if this bird is a pure Gyrfalcon, it can only be a male. Additional photos were taken for further evaluation. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Oct 5, 2007, at 6:17 PM, Michael Hendrickson wrote: I was at the Park Point Rec. Area from?12:00 - 2:30pm and saw a few good birds.? The weather is ugly with strong gusty NNE winds at 25-30mph and constant light rain to moderate rain.? Tomorrow's boat trip is still on!! ?as the weather system moves on to the east.? It wll still be good for jaegers and other goodies for lake scanning as the winds will be 10-15mph from the NNE mid-day and also on Sunday.? There is off and on chance for rain for Saturday but scattered thunderstorms for Sunday. So if you are planning on coming up hopefully some good birds will be sighted. ? Birds: ? 4 Surf Scoters (3 imm types and one adult in breeding plumage) located on 33rd street on the bay side mixed in with scaup. ? 1 Black Scoter mixed in with the same group above. ? 1 Harris Sparrow at the main parking lot across from the restroom building.? I also saw additional 5 other species of sparrows including lots of Tree Sparrows. ? Spent quite a bit of time scanning for jaegers but the constant rain and high gusts made it very tough.? My best bet tomorrow will be a better day for lake scanning. ? ? Mike Hendrickson Duluth, Minnesota Website: http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ Local Bird Guide Lake Superior Birding Boat Trips ? -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 3063 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20071005/2af2d01e/attachment.bin
[mou] Gyfalcon, etc. at Superior Entry
The juvenile gray-morph Gyrfalcon found by the North Dakota Birding Society on the first day of their fall trip to Duluth was observed for about 15 minutes before it disappeared. It was initially found perched on the cement wall at the south end of Minnesota Point. Remaining on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry, it then flew to the rocks on the breakwater and perched again. Though relatively early, there are several previous September records for Minnesota as follows: 16 Sep 1971 Duluth (Loon 44:12) 19 Sep 1976 Duluth (Loon 49:142) 21 Sep 1981 Hawk Ridge (Loon 54:119) 22 Sep 1971 Nobles County (Loon 44:12) 24 Sep 1990 Hawk Ridge (Loon 63:119) In addition to the birds mentioned below, we also found an adult Red-throated Loon at Wisconsin Point (Wisconsin waters only) and 2 Short-eared Owls in flight on both sides of the Superior Entry at 5:10 PM. The juvenile Parasitic Jaeger was seen from the first pullout on Wisconsin Point and put on quite a show as it harassed Ring-billed Gulls. Thanks to Jim Lind for posting on our behalf. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Sep 28, 2007, at 5:27 PM, Jim Lind wrote: Peder Svingen called to report a Gyrfalcon perched on the rocks on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry at about 4:00 pm. Also seen on the Minnesota side was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. A juvenile Parasitic Jaeger was seen in Wisconsin waters. All of these observations were made from the north end of Wisconsin Point by Peder and a group of North Dakota birders. Peder also had a second-hand report of a Prairie Falcon observed by a reliable observer just east of Duluth this morning. As of early afternoon it had not been seen at Hawk Ridge. Also seen in Duluth earlier today was a Black Scoter on the bay side of the Sky Harbor Airport, and two Boreal Chickadees and three Sandhill Cranes at the Hawk Ridge main overlook. Jim Lind
[mou] 16 warbler species at Park Point--Southworth Marsh, 8/13/07
Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-reply at ebird.org Date: August 13, 2007 9:18:41 PM CDT To: psvingen at d.umn.edu Subject: eBird Report - Park Point--Southworth Marsh , 8/13/07 Location: Park Point--Southworth Marsh Observation date: 8/13/07 Notes: Sixteen species of warblers observed by Peder H. Svingen in one hour of birding at Southworth Marsh on Park Point, Duluth, MN 8/13/2007. Winds were easterly at 10 mph and probably helped concentrate migrants at this small preserve along the west side of Park Point, between the Rowing Club and the bus turnaround. Four of the warbler species seen today were not among those seen on the 9th, so a total of 20 species has been found at Park Point in the last four days. Also seen were three species of vireo and Veery, Swainson's Thrush, and one Gray-cheeked Thrush. Number of species:42 [non-warbler species removed from forwarded message] Golden-winged Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 24 Yellow Warbler 19 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Magnolia Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 2 Black-and-white Warbler 16 American Redstart 9 Ovenbird 3 Northern Waterthrush 1 Mourning Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 14 Wilson's Warbler 2 Canada Warbler 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 1653 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070813/07de32d8/attachment.bin
[mou] Fwd: Buff-breasted Sandpipers and Ruff, Lac Qui Parle County
With apologies, I am resending a message sent yesterday evening. Peder From: Peder Svingen psvingen at d.umn.edu Date: July 28, 2007 11:38:05 PM CDT To: MOU-net mou-net at cbs.umn.edu Subject: Buff-breasted Sandpipers and Ruff, Lac Qui Parle County Shorebird surveys in Big Stone and Lac Qui Parle counties Friday and Saturday (27-28 July) recorded a total of 4,253 individuals of 19 species. HIghlights on Saturday included a Ruff at the Ruby Red Peninsula, Big Stone NWR, and a single flock of 53 Buff-breasted Sandpipers along 366th St, just E of 141st Ave, Lac Qui Parle County. The Ruff was observed by Dale Yerger and myself for 45 minutes late Saturday afternoon, before it suddenly took off and departed towards the northwest; it could not be refound either at Ruby Red or nearby areas on Saturday. Directions to Ruby Red Peninsula are shown below. The flock of Buff-breasted Sandpipers flew about 0.5 mile NW and landed in a recently cut hayfield along CR 72, just W of 141st Ave. The Low Flow Area at Big Stone NWR had nearly 500 shorebirds. Lighting is best here in the early morning. Shorebird habitat outside of Big Stone NWR continues to be poor with only a few areas currently productive. In Lac Qui Parle County, there are still some flooded fields along CR 7, with the best areas just south of CR 36. Salt Lake still has relatively high water levels for this time of year, but did have 484 shorebirds (12 species) on Saturday. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN ---Directions to Ruby Red Peninsula from a 15 July 2007 posting by Phil Chu--- To reach the Ruby Red Peninsula access road - which you cannot drive, but can walk - head south from the Big Stone NWR headquarters. The road you're heading south on will be Big Stone CR 19, which becomes Lac qui Parle CR 15 as soon as you cross the Minnesota River, i.e., as soon as you cross into Lac qui Parle Co. Heading south from the Big Stone NWR headquarters on Big Stone CR 19/Lac qui Parle CR 15, look for the second gated road on the left. This is the Ruby Red Peninsula access road. Walk down the gravel access road until you come to a fork. The left side of the fork is gravel and heads straight for the quarry, whereas the right side of the fork is a mowed two-track and leads to the tip of the peninsula. Take the right side of the fork to the tip of the peninsula. I'm not sure about the length of this walk, but suspect it to be close to a mile. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 2699 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070729/5959971e/attachment.bin
[mou] Buff-breasted Sandpipers and Ruff, Lac Qui Parle County
Shorebird surveys in Big Stone and Lac Qui Parle counties Friday and Saturday (27-28 July) recorded a total of 4,253 individuals of 19 species. HIghlights on Saturday included a Ruff at the Ruby Red Peninsula, Big Stone NWR, and a single flock of 53 Buff-breasted Sandpipers along 366th St, just E of 141st Ave, Lac Qui Parle County. The Ruff was observed by Dale Yerger and myself for 45 minutes late Saturday afternoon, before it suddenly took off and departed towards the northwest; it could not be refound either at Ruby Red or nearby areas. Directions to Ruby Red Peninsula are shown below. The flock of Buff-breasted Sandpipers flew about 0.5 mile NW and landed in a recently cut hayfield along CR 72, just W of 141st Ave. The Low Flow Area at Big Stone NWR had nearly 500 shorebirds. Lighting is best here in the early morning. Shorebird habitat outside of Big Stone NWR continues to be poor with only a few areas currently productive. In Lac Qui Parle County, there are still some flooded fields along CR 7, with the best areas just south of CR 36. Salt Lake still has relatively high water levels for this time of year, but did have 484 shorebirds (12 species) on Saturday. The only areas specifically worth noting in Big Stone County are the Munnwyler Lake area along CR 64, about one mile E of US 75 near Ortonville; along CR 25, 0.3 miles S of CR 10 near Artichoke Lake; and along CR 67, 2.0 miles NE of CR 21. Kim Eckert checked the Giese WPA northwest of Donnelly, Stevens County, and found water levels quite low with fewer birds compared to the numbers reported there in mid July; however, Buff-breasted Sandpipers were seen there by the MBW group today. As previously posted by Sara Vacek, to see a map of Giese WPA go to http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Morris and follow the maps link. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN ---Directions to Ruby Red Peninsula from a 15 July 2007 posting by Phil Chu--- To reach the Ruby Red Peninsula access road - which you cannot drive, but can walk - head south from the Big Stone NWR headquarters. The road you're heading south on will be Big Stone CR 19, which becomes Lac qui Parle CR 15 as soon as you cross the Minnesota River, i.e., as soon as you cross into Lac qui Parle Co. Heading south from the Big Stone NWR headquarters on Big Stone CR 19/Lac qui Parle CR 15, look for the second gated road on the left. This is the Ruby Red Peninsula access road. Walk down the gravel access road until you come to a fork. The left side of the fork is gravel and heads straight for the quarry, whereas the right side of the fork is a mowed two-track and leads to the tip of the peninsula. Take the right side of the fork to the tip of the peninsula. I'm not sure about the length of this walk, but suspect it to be close to a mile.
[mou] Fwd: eBird Report - Giese WPA, Stevens Co. , 7/15/07
Here are shorebird counts (247 individuals, 12 species) at Giese WPA between 0720 and 0820 this morning. I also had a singing Le Conte's Sparrow about 100 yards in from the NW access to the WPA. Please see Sara Vacek's posting for more information and links to a map of the WPA. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-reply at ebird.org Date: July 15, 2007 10:47:43 PM CDT To: psvingen at d.umn.edu Subject: eBird Report - Giese WPA, Stevens Co. , 7/15/07 Location: Giese WPA, Stevens Co. Observation date: 7/15/07 Notes: All observations by Peder H. Svingen at Giese WPA, northwest of Donnelly, Stevens County, MN 7/15/2007. Number of species: 12 Semipalmated Plover 2 Killdeer 151 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 28 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Spotted Sandpiper 3 Semipalmated Sandpiper 12 Least Sandpiper 38 Baird's Sandpiper 3 Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Stilt Sandpiper 3 Short-billed Dowitcher 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Original Message From: Sara_Vacek at fws.gov Subject:[mou] shorebirds at Giese WPA - Stevens County Date: July 13, 2007 2:43:38 PM CDT To: mou-net at moumn.org Cc: Steve_Delehanty at fws.gov SNIP This is a restored wetland with a county ditch running through the middle - park where the ditch crosses the road at the south or northwest of the WPA and walk along the levee on the west side of the ditch. For a map of Giese WPA or any other WPA managed by the Morris Wetland Management District, go to http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Morris and follow the maps link. As always, we love to hear about interesting observations on our WPAs so feel free to call or email me with your sightings. Sara Vacek Wildlife Biologist US Fish and Wildlife Service Morris Wetland Management District 43875 230th St. Morris, MN 56267 320-589-4973 -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 2335 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070715/9f3d89d6/attachment.bin
[mou] Semipalmated Plover at Park Point, Duluth
A Semipalmated Plover near the boat launch at the Park Point Recreation Area [46.7320?N, 92.0554?W] this afternoon was probably still northbound and if so classified, tied the latest date for a spring migrant according to Bardon (Northbound or Southbound? ? The Enigma of Summer Shorebird Migration, Loon 74:65-82). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 411 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070621/b23e9e61/attachment.bin
[mou] gull census at Superior Entry and Superior landill
More than 3,000 gulls were counted in the Duluth-Superior area today; the vast majority were at the landfill and on Alouez Bay in Wisconsin. All birds at the landfill were observed from the public road outside of the fenced-in area. Ring-billed Gull -- 8 (plus 50 more at Canal Park, Duluth); Herring Gull -- 2,850 (plus 400 more at Canal Park, Duluth); Thayer's Gull -- 2 adults, one third-cycle, and two first-cycle (plus one more adult at Canal Park, Duluth); Iceland Gull -- adult Kumlien's on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry at 0930; Slaty-backed Gull -- adult at Superior landfill 1053 to 1057 and from 1310 to 1333; Glaucous Gull -- 2 adults at Superior Entry, one second-cycle and one first-cycle at landfill (plus one adult at Canal Park, Duluth); Great Black-backed Gull -- first-cycle on Alouez Bay at 1145 and subsequently refound at landfill. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Slaty-backed Gull at Superior, WI
For those considering looking for this bird, here is some important information posted to the Wisconsin listserve: Subject: Slaty-backed Gull info From: Daryl Tessen bhaunts AT core.com Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 17:57:15 -0600 Robbye Johnson called me late this afternoon about her and Larry Semo finding the adult Slaty-backed Gull (winter plumage) at the dump by Wisconsin Pt. As Mark has already indicated it is an adult and they got photos of it. Seen about 1:45 it disappeared and they could not relocate it for some time. When they eventually returned to the dump it had returned but only for a brief period of time. All the key id points were seen clearly. This is only the 2nd record for the state. If you are going up to try for the bird Robbye asked that you keep several things in mind. The dump is closed to the public. Do not try to climb the fence or enter any other way. The dump, when open for garbage, can be very busy. Do not park so you make it difficult for the trucks to enter and leave. Also remember that gun deer hunting season starts on Saturday. The dump and Wis Pt are in the city so deer cannot be hunted (gun) here. However everything to the east and south is county and is open for hunting. This includes the bluff. If you decide to look for the bird from the bluff it is probably best to bird only from your vehicle, or possibly stand right next to it Be careful and use common sense. And obviously good luck. Post your success or (hopefully not) failure. Daryl Tessen Appleton, WI On Nov 17, 2006, at 4:20 PM, Jim Lind wrote: I just saw this posting on the Wisconsin listserve. Maybe this bird will wander into Minnesota. Jim Lind Subject: Alert-Slaty-backed Gull From: Korducki korducki AT earthlink.net Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 14:45:59 -0600 I just received word that Robbye Johnson and Larry Semo found an adult Slaty-backed gull at the dump on Wisconsin Point earlier this afternoon. They were able to obtain photos. The birds were flushed out onto the lake by a bulldozer but it is probably still in the area. Larry is a Wisconsin native who now lives in Colorado. He always returns home for deer hunting. Larry and Robbye are both dynamite birders so I have no doubt about their sighting. Good luck everyone! Mark Korducki, New Berlin ___ mou-net mailing list mou-...@cbs.umn.edu http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
[mou] North Shore weekend birds
Chris Benson and Mike Hendrickson called regarding the following species of interest along the North Shore of Lake Superior: Ross's Goose -- two immatures still present at Two Harbors Golf Course as of 10/20; Long-tailed Duck -- one near Rowing Club on harbor side of Park Point 10/21; White-winged Scoter -- one in Agate Bay, Two Harbors 10/20; Western Grebe -- found by Dan Svingen at Agate Bay, Two Harbors 10/20; Three-toed Woodpecker -- found by CCB at private residence adjacent to the Harbor View Apartments in Two Harbors 10/21; Black-backed Woodpecker -- still present in Two Harbors -- walk trails east of the lighthouse; Mountain Bluebird -- female still present in Duluth at Bayfront Park and vicinity as of 10/21; Townsend's Solitaire -- found by CCB near ballfields at Park Point Recreation Area, Duluth 10/21. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Record-high count of Common Loons on Mille Lacs
Anthony Hertzel and I conducted a 7 and 1/2 hour survey of Mille Lacs Lake on Wednesday (18 October). In spite of snow squalls, intermittent drizzle, and blustery northwest winds, we counted a total of 2,729 Common Loons. This represents a new record-high count for Minnesota (2,511 were tallied at this same location 18 October 2000). The vast majority were along the north and west shores, including a flock of 1,061 off Wealthwood. We also counted a total of 1,923 Bonaparte's Gulls. Other highlights included a Red-throated Loon and a late Hudsonian Godwit along the north shore (Aitkin County), an adult Pacific Loon photographed on St. Albans Bay (Crow Wing County), and a late Common Tern at Isle (Mille Lacs County). Though not counted individually, numbers of Horned Grebes were estimated to be the highest since our surveys started there about 10 years ago. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Park Point / Lafayette Square today
Three hours of lake watching produced the following birds of interest today (Saturday, 7 October): 8 Surf Scoters in one flock; 3 Red-throated Loons seen together with 4 Common Loons nearby; 1 jaeger sp., observed between 10:55 and 11:15 AM, probably a juvenile Pomarine based on pale rump patch and size ~15% larger than the adult RIng-billed it was chasing, but too distant to see all of the field marks and only compared to one Ring-billed and thus left unidentified; 1 juvenile/first-winter Little Gull foraging along the beach with 4 Bonaparte's Gulls. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] What's wrong with this picture in Duluth?
It is 74 degrees in Duluth, Minnesota on the 7th of October. I live 8 blocks up the hill from Lake Superior and less than 5 minutes from downtown. There is an adult Gray Jay perched on top of my chimney and indignantly scolding a Merlin. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Jaeger mania redux
The juvenile Pomarine Jaeger that has been intermittently seen in the Duluth area since at least 6 September showed exceptionally well this afternoon between about 2:30 and 5:30 PM off Lafayette Square/31st Street on Park Point. It was seen preening, sitting on the water, soaring, interacting with other jaegers, and repeatedly attacking Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls--forcing them to disgorge their food. On a couple of occasions, the Pomarine flew directly overhead the group of astonished birders who gathered at Lafayette Square after Denny Barb Martin got the word out. The group had close and repeated looks at all the field marks used to identify this species and compared the Pomarine to multiple Ring-billed Gulls and several Herring Gulls. As if that weren't enough, at least six additional jaegers were seen during this time, including five jaegers in a single flock! Two were adult or near-adult light morphs and since all five were similar in size to one another and smaller than an average Ring-billed Gull, and since one of the five was a previously identified Parasitic, we concluded that all five jaegers were Parasitics. One of the juvenile Parasitics repeatedly attacked the Pomarine--showing its much more agile flight and tighter turns as compared to the Pomarine; it was significantly smaller than the Pomarine in bulk and wingspan, providing further support for calling this Pomarine a female. The possible Long-tailed Jaeger mentioned earlier was *not* refound this afternoon and there no sightings today of Arctic Tern. After a relatively calm morning, the winds at Park Point were unexpectedly brisk and easterly all afternoon. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Oct 1, 2006, at 2:15 PM, Peder Svingen wrote: At least two jaegers (one light morph and one dark morph) have been seen off Park Point in Duluth since early this morning. Denny Barb Martin also reported a juvenile Little Gull early this AM and again at about 2:00 PM from Lafayette Square/31st Street on Park Pont. As of 1:30 PM when I departed, no one had seen an Arctic Tern or any of the unusual loons seen earlier in the week. Denny just called to report a possible Long-tailed Jaeger chasing Bonaparte's Gulls along the beach between Lafayette Square and Canal Park. He said that its size was similar to or smaller than the Bonaparte's Gull with grayish-brown upperparts and clean white underparts. Its size was also compared to the dark morph jaeger that we had previously identified as a Parasitic based on size comparisons to Ring-billed Gulls, and the jaeger in question was much smaller than the dark-morph Parasitic. Denny Barb and others will try to get additional looks at the bird and post more information later today. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN ___ mou-net mailing list mou-...@cbs.umn.edu http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
[mou] Duluth update / possible Long-tailed Jaeger
At least two jaegers (one light morph and one dark morph) have been seen off Park Point in Duluth since early this morning. Denny Barb Martin also reported a juvenile Little Gull early this AM and again at about 2:00 PM from Lafayette Square/31st Street on Park Pont. As of 1:30 PM when I departed, no one had seen an Arctic Tern or any of the unusual loons seen earlier in the week. Denny just called to report a possible Long-tailed Jaeger chasing Bonaparte's Gulls along the beach between Lafayette Square and Canal Park. He said that its size was similar to or smaller than the Bonaparte's Gull with grayish-brown upperparts and clean white underparts. Its size was also compared to the dark morph jaeger that we had previously identified as a Parasitic based on size comparisons to Ring-billed Gulls, and the jaeger in question was much smaller than the dark-morph Parasitic. Denny Barb and others will try to get additional looks at the bird and post more information later today. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Purple Sandpiper relocated
Cindy Vern Krienke just called to report that as of about 6:00 PM,=20 the Purple Sandpiper was still present just west of Denny's Resort.=20 They heard a rumor that someone reported a dark-mantled gull in the=20 area--no other information is currently available. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Sep 27, 2006, at 9:37 AM, B W wrote: Dale Yerger called at 9:20 AM today (9/27) to say that he and Ben=20 Fritchman had relocated the Purple Sandpiper at Denny's Resort on Lake=20= Winnibigoshish in Cass County.=A0 The bird was not present at that=20 location earlier this morning, but reappeared.=A0 Weather conditions = at=20 Lake Winnie right now are windy with rain.=A0 Also present are several=20= Sanderlings and there was a fly-over of several Snow Geese (good bird=20= for Cass).=A0 Ben Wieland Ben Wieland Deep Portage Learning Center 2197 Nature Center Dr. NW Hackensack, MN 56452 (218)682-2325 Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+=20= countries) for 2=A2/min or less.=
[mou] Sabine's Gulls Duluth
At 4:05 PM this afternoon, Don Keinholz and I spotted 4 juvenile Sabine's Gulls flying towards Canal Park from our vantage point on the viewing platform near Lafayette Square/31st Street on Park Point in Duluth. We stayed at this location until 5:15 PM but did not see them again. We did see four or five different jaegers during this time (based on plumage and number of jaegers seen simultaneously). We heard second-hand that observers at Wisconsin Point saw Little and Sabine's gulls today. As many as five jaegers were in view simultaneously from that location, including one identified as a Pomarine. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Sep 21, 2006, at 8:09 PM, David Benson wrote: Tonight between 5:40 and 6:30 from Lafayette Square, we saw at least two SABINE'S GULLS, one clearly a juvenile, not sure about the other. The first was in a group of four gulls of about the same size, but none of us got a good enough look at more than one at a time. Also saw a juvenile Bonaparte's Gull and a Common Tern. No jaegers. Dave Benson Duluth ___ mou-net mailing list mou-...@cbs.umn.edu http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
[mou] Sabine's Gull, jaegers in Duluth
Ty and Ida Baumann, Robbye Johnson, Daryl Tessen, and others have been lake watching from Wisconsin Point yesterday and today. The Baumanns reported seeing an Arctic Tern on the Wisconsin side of the state line yesterday morning. A juvenile Sabine's Gull (probably the same one seen by Jim LInd et al. at 5:15 PM today) was seen both yesterday and today by a number of birders at Wisconsin Point. Exceptional numbers of jaegers were also seen off Wisconsin Point today, including a well-marked adult light-morph Parasitic with tail streamers that was well seen on both sides of the state line--probably the same individual reported by Kim Eckert and others this afternoon. At about 5:15 PM, we had distant looks at a large, blackish, broad-winged jaeger harassing gulls near Gull Bluff--its wingspan appeared to be similar to that of the Ring-billed Gull that it was chasing. The adult Lesser Black-backed Gull first seen 9 September was observed this afternoon on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Sep 20, 2006, at 9:47 PM, Jim Lind wrote: At about 5:15 pm today a distant Sabine's Gull was briefly in view out from Lafayette Square at Park Point. Jim Mattson, Doug Kieser, and I watched as it was harassed by the Pomarine Jaeger while flying out over the lake towards Wisconsin. I could make out the bold black and white pattern on the wings as well as at least a partial hood, but I couldn't tell if it was an adult or juvenile. Dave Grosshuesch, and Don Keinholz arrived a little later and we had some more decent looks at the Pomarine as it flew far out over the lake and occasionally chased a passing gull. We also saw a probable adult light morph Parasitic Jaeger and 3-4 other unidentified distant jaegers. Jim Lind Two Harbors
[mou] Duluth update
Randy Frederickson and I refound the juvenile Pomarine Jaeger today (10 September) at 11:50 AM while standing on the viewing platform just north of the airport on Park Point in Duluth. It flew within about 250 yards of the beach and was in view for four minutes before disappearing. Randy was on yesterday's boat trip and commented on this bird's larger size, broader wings, and heavier chest compared to the three Parasitic Jaegers seen during the boat trip. Once again, its double underwing flash and paler, barred rump was evident and we could readily see its dark-tipped, bluish-gray bill gleaming against its dark face. It pursued an adult Ring-billed Gull down the beach and seemingly drove the gull into the pines south of the airport; its wingspan was at least as great as the gull's. At least one and probably two different Parasitic Jaegers were seen off Wisconsin Point this afternoon. Yesterday, Robbye Johnson observed a minimum of three different Parasitics off Wisconsin Point at about the same time that the two adult Parasitics were videotaped 8 miles off Park Point during the boat trip, suggesting that five or more Parasitics were present on western Lake Superior yesterday. Robbye also found an adult Little Gull in basic plumage yesterday on the inland side of Wisconsin Point in Allouez Bay. This bird was not seen today and did not fly into Minnesota waters, but may still be in the area. I found a juvenile Sabine's Gull on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry today at 3:45 PM. I was standing on Wisconsin Point and looking towards the breakwater on the Minnesota side of the state line. The bird disappeared when one of the Parasitic Jaegers strafed the breakwall. Yesterday's adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen again on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry from 2:45 to 3:00 PM this afternoon. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
[mou] Pomarine Jaeger at Park Point
--Apple-Mail-1-1049353073 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed Winds were easterly 10=9615 mph all day today at Park Point in=20 Duluth--conditions often associated with sightings of jaegers. At 5:27=20= PM this afternoon, from the second viewing platform north of the Sky=20 Harbor airport, I spotted a large jaeger coming in at about 75 feet=20 altitude above Lake Superior, just as all of the Ring-billed Gulls on=20 the beach frantically took flight. It approached to within about 200=20 yards before it dropped closer to the surface of the water and=20 eventually flew towards Gull Bluff (east of Wisconsin Point). I had=20 good looks at the bird for about four minutes and concluded that it was=20= a juvenile Pomarine Jaeger--probably the same individual that I watched=20= for an hour on Monday (11:15 AM to 12:15 PM when the winds were north=20 5=9610 mph and becoming light and variable). On Monday, the bird was=20 farther away (400+ yards) and though I was able to watch it preen and=20 flap its wings a few times (revealing Pomarine's classic double=20 underwing flash on the greater primary under wing-coverts and at the=20 bases of the primaries on the underwing), it spent nearly the entire=20 hour sitting on the water and I was only able to compare its size in=20 flight to one Ring-billed Gull, so could not claim an identification=20 beyond jaeger, sp. Today, the large size of this jaeger was obvious (female?). It showed=20 very broad inner wings and a wing span greater than that of an=20 average-sized Ring-billed Gull. A pale primary flash was visible on the=20= upper surface of the wing. The double underwing flash was again seen=20= and barring was noted on its wing linings, flanks, and under=20 tail-coverts. More importantly for identification purposes, barring on=20= its rump/upper tail-coverts produced a pale patch that contrasted=20 with the rest of its upperparts, while its head and nape looked=20 essentially the same shade of brown as its mantle. I was unable to=20 detect the shape of its central pair of rectrices (R1), as these=20 feathers did not appear to extend beyond the tail tip. Let's hope that=20= this jaeger can be found and photographed on this weekend's boat trip!=20= For more information about these trips, please e-mail Mike Hendrickson=20= at smithvil...@charter.net =A0-- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN= --Apple-Mail-1-1049353073 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/enriched; charset=WINDOWS-1252 Winds were easterly 10=9615 mph all day today at Park Point in Duluth--conditions often associated with sightings of jaegers. At 5:27 PM this afternoon, from the second viewing platform north of the Sky Harbor airport, I spotted a large jaeger coming in at about 75 feet altitude above Lake Superior, just as all of the Ring-billed Gulls on the beach frantically took flight. It approached to within about 200 yards before it dropped closer to the surface of the water and eventually flew towards Gull Bluff (east of Wisconsin Point). I had good looks at the bird for about four minutes and concluded that it was a juvenile Pomarine Jaeger--probably the same individual that I watched for an hour on Monday (11:15 AM to 12:15 PM when the winds were north 5=9610 mph and becoming light and variable). On Monday, the bird was farther away (400+ yards) and though I was able to watch it preen and flap its wings a few times (revealing Pomarine's classic double underwing flash on the greater primary under wing-coverts and at the bases of the primaries on the underwing), it spent nearly the entire hour sitting on the water and I was only able to compare its size in flight to one Ring-billed Gull, so could not claim an identification beyond jaeger, sp.=20 Today, the large size of this jaeger was obvious (female?). It showed very broad inner wings and a wing span greater than that of an average-sized Ring-billed Gull. A pale primary flash was visible on the upper surface of the wing. The double underwing flash was again seen and barring was noted on its wing linings, flanks, and under tail-coverts. More importantly for identification purposes, barring on its rump/upper tail-coverts produced a pale patch that contrasted with the rest of its upperparts, while its head and nape looked essentially the same shade of brown as its mantle. I was unable to detect the shape of its central pair of rectrices (R1), as these feathers did not appear to extend beyond the tail tip. Let's hope that this jaeger can be found and photographed on this weekend's boat trip! For more information about these trips, please e-mail Mike Hendrickson at fontfamilyparamComic Sans = MS/paramcolorparam,,/paramsmallersmithvil...@charter= .net/smaller/colorsmaller /smaller/fontfamily=A0-- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN= --Apple-Mail-1-1049353073--
[mou] update on Plegadis ibises in west-central Minnesota
--Apple-Mail-1-703862774 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed A total of 9 Plegadis ibis was found at 3 west-central Minnesota locations today (2 September) where ibises have been present in varying numbers for at least the past 2 weeks: 1) state highway 28, just west of Big Stone County Road 61 (5 birds); 2) Big Stone County Road 64, about a mile east of US 75 and across the road from Munnwyler Lake (one juvenile); 3) Big Stone NWR Auto Tour Route (3 birds). None of the above were adults and none could be identified as to species. I checked the location in Traverse County where Bill Unzen reported 14 ibises several days ago (see http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl for directions) and found none. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN --ORIGINAL MESSAGE-- From: Peder Svingen psvin...@d.umn.edu Date: August 21, 2006 1:50:06 AM CDT To: MOU-net mou-...@cbs.umn.edu Subject: [mou] Plegadis ibises in west-central Minnesota While conducting shorebird surveys this past weekend, Jeanie Joppru and I encountered a total of 25 Plegadis ibises in 5 west-central Minnesota locations. Except for one individual, all were juveniles and thus not identified as to species. An adult-looking bird at location #1 showed reddish irides, but the color of its facial skin could not be determined; therefore, the remote possibility of a hybrid Glossy x White-faced Ibis could not be ruled out. The 5 locations are as follows: 1) state highway 28, just west of Big Stone County Road 61 (16 juveniles and one adult photographed Saturday afternoon); 2) Big Stone County Road 61, about 4 and 1/2 miles south of state highway 28 (one juvenile seen Saturday afternoon); 3) Big Stone County Road 64, about a mile east of US 75 and across the road from Munnwyler Lake (one juvenile photographed Saturday evening); 4) Big Stone NWR, west side of road to Low Flow area off Big Stone County Road 21 (one bird found at sunrise--it was subsequently seen flying south into Lac Qui Parle County--towards Bellingham); 5) Big Stone NWR, east end of Auto Tour Route (five juveniles photographed at about 4:30 PM Sunday). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN ___ mou-net mailing list mou-...@cbs.umn.edu http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net --Apple-Mail-1-703862774 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/enriched; charset=US-ASCII A total of 9 Plegadis ibis was found at 3 west-central Minnesota locations today (2 September) where ibises have been present in varying numbers for at least the past 2 weeks: 1) state highway 28, just west of Big Stone County Road 61 (5 birds); 2) Big Stone County Road 64, about a mile east of US 75 and across the road from Munnwyler Lake (one juvenile); 3) Big Stone NWR Auto Tour Route (3 birds). None of the above were adults and none could be identified as to species. I checked the location in Traverse County where Bill Unzen reported 14 ibises several days ago (see http://moumn.org/cgi-bin/recent.pl for directions) and found none. -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN --ORIGINAL MESSAGE-- excerptboldcolorparam,,/paramFrom: /color/boldPeder Svingen psvin...@d.umn.edu boldcolorparam,,/paramDate: /color/boldAugust 21, 2006 1:50:06 AM CDT boldcolorparam,,/paramTo: /color/boldMOU-net mou-...@cbs.umn.edu boldcolorparam,,/paramSubject: /color[mou] Plegadis ibises in west-central Minnesota /bold While conducting shorebird surveys this past weekend, Jeanie Joppru and I encountered a total of 25 Plegadis ibises in 5 west-central Minnesota locations. Except for one individual, all were juveniles and thus not identified as to species. An adult-looking bird at location #1 showed reddish irides, but the color of its facial skin could not be determined; therefore, the remote possibility of a hybrid Glossy x White-faced Ibis could not be ruled out. The 5 locations are as follows: 1) state highway 28, just west of Big Stone County Road 61 (16 juveniles and one adult photographed Saturday afternoon); 2) Big Stone County Road 61, about 4 and 1/2 miles south of state highway 28 (one juvenile seen Saturday afternoon); 3) Big Stone County Road 64, about a mile east of US 75 and across the road from Munnwyler Lake (one juvenile photographed Saturday evening); 4) Big Stone NWR, west side of road to Low Flow area off Big Stone County Road 21 (one bird found at sunrise--it was subsequently seen flying south into Lac Qui Parle County--towards Bellingham); 5) Big Stone NWR, east end of Auto Tour Route (five juveniles photographed at about 4:30 PM Sunday). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN ___ mou-net mailing list mou-...@cbs.umn.edu http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net /excerpt --Apple-Mail-1-703862774--
[mou] Notes from West-Central MN
--Apple-Mail-1-101461259 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed At about the same time as Bill's sightings of 12 Plegadis ibis in Lac=20 Qui Parle County at Big Stone NWR, I counted no fewer than 23 Plegadis=20= ibis (20 first-fall birds and 3 wearing adult-type plumage) between=20 2:20 and 2:40 PM west of Graceville (state highway 28, just west of Big=20= Stone County Road 61). Later in the afternoon on Saturday, I refound=20 presumably the same juvenile Plegadis ibis as last weekend in the small=20= slough across the road from Munnwyler Lake along Big Stone County Road=20= 64, 1.0 mile east of US 75. A total of 36 ibis in one day in west-central Minnesota! -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Aug 26, 2006, at 8:35 PM, William Marengo wrote: Spent Friday most of Saturday birding in Yellow Medicine and Lac Qui=20= Parle counties. Some high-lights: Lac Qui Parle: 12 Plegadis Ibis were present at various points along the Big Stone=20 NWR auto tour route between 1:00pm =96 2:00 pm Saturday SNIP= --Apple-Mail-1-101461259 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/enriched; charset=WINDOWS-1252 At about the same time as Bill's sightings of 12 Plegadis ibis in Lac Qui Parle County at Big Stone NWR, I counted no fewer than 23 Plegadis ibis (20 first-fall birds and 3 wearing adult-type plumage) between 2:20 and 2:40 PM west of Graceville (state highway 28, just west of Big Stone County Road 61). Later in the afternoon on Saturday, I refound presumably the same juvenile Plegadis ibis as last weekend in the small slough across the road from Munnwyler Lake along Big Stone County Road 64, 1.0 mile east of US 75. A total of 36 ibis in one day in west-central Minnesota! -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN On Aug 26, 2006, at 8:35 PM, William Marengo wrote: excerptfontfamilyparamArial/paramsmallerSpent Friday most of Saturday birding in Yellow Medicine and Lac Qui Parle counties. Some high-lights:/smaller/fontfamily fontfamilyparamArial/paramsmallerLac Qui = Parle:/smaller/fontfamily fontfamilyparamArial/paramsmaller12 Plegadis Ibis were present at various points along the/smaller/fontfamily fontfamilyparamArial/paramsmallerBig Stone NWR/smaller/fontfamily fontfamilyparamArial/paramsmallerauto tour route between 1:00pm/smaller/fontfamily fontfamilyparamArial/paramsmaller=96 2:00 pm = Saturday/smaller/fontfamily SNIP/excerpt= --Apple-Mail-1-101461259--
[mou] Plegadis ibises in west-central Minnesota
While conducting shorebird surveys this past weekend, Jeanie Joppru and I encountered a total of 25 Plegadis ibises in 5 west-central Minnesota locations. Except for one individual, all were juveniles and thus not identified as to species. An adult-looking bird at location #1 showed reddish irides, but the color of its facial skin could not be determined; therefore, the remote possibility of a hybrid Glossy x White-faced Ibis could not be ruled out. The 5 locations are as follows: 1) state highway 28, just west of Big Stone County Road 61 (16 juveniles and one adult photographed Saturday afternoon); 2) Big Stone County Road 61, about 4 and 1/2 miles south of state highway 28 (one juvenile seen Saturday afternoon); 3) Big Stone County Road 64, about a mile east of US 75 and across the road from Munnwyler Lake (one juvenile photographed Saturday evening); 4) Big Stone NWR, west side of road to Low Flow area off Big Stone County Road 21 (one bird found at sunrise--it was subsequently seen flying south into Lac Qui Parle County--towards Bellingham); 5) Big Stone NWR, east end of Auto Tour Route (five juveniles photographed at about 4:30 PM Sunday). -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN
