[mou-net] Osprey, Red Wing, Goodhue Co.
There was an Osprey circling over Pottery Pond, adjacent to the Mississippi River in Red Wing, this afternoon. He had the distinctive dark patches at the wrists, "W" shape when cruising, and once or twice looked like he was going to go into a feet-first dive. Interestingly, the DNR had just stocked Pottery Pond with trout within the last couple of weeks. Phil Dech Red Wing 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] 180th St. marsh, 4/8
I had a good afternoon there. Plenty of ducks to be seen. N. Shoveller Am. Widgeon Coot Gadwall Ring-necked Duck Blue-Winged Teal Redhead Scaup Wood Duck (lone drake) A lone Sandhill Crane flew in while I was there. It paid to look up from time to time. A Rough-legged, a Cooper's and 2 Red-Tailed Hawks came through the area. I also saw a pair of Eastern Bluebirds at the top of the rise just west of the marsh. I also checked out Sturgeon Lake. This is a Mississippi backwater immediately north of the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant, in Goodhue County. There were about 120 White Pelicans. Phil Dech Red Wing -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080409/6febb0f4/attachment.html
[mou] Winter Wren - Meisville Ravine Park, Dakota County
The bird was in the part of the park south of the road, foraging low to the ground within several feet of the Cannon River, roughly 50 yards beyond the picnic pavilion. It popped up and perched near the top of the vegetation a few times, giving me reasonably good looks. The bird had a distinctly short cocked up tail. It was uniformly brown, barred on it's belly. There was a stripe above its eye which was several shades lighter brown, but not white. Unfortunately I did not have much time to spend there today. I never feel as though I have birded this spot as thoroughly as it deserves. No other rarities, but of note the place was just dripping with Kinglets, several dozen, mostly Golden-Crowned. There were also some Yellow-Rumped Warblers, and two Brown Creepers. Also, there are a lot of Flickers moving through my neck of the woods right now. Phil Dech Red Wing -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080419/fbfb8f3d/attachment.html
[mou] r.e. A response to the post of Bernard P. Friel
People who subscribe to this forum obviously have an interest in birds and birding in this state. That does not mean that they have the same opinions about birds and birding in this state, and I suspect the further you get from strictly that topic opinions become more and more diverse, and the discussion strays far beyond the scope or interest of most subscribers. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20081005/c781ff20/attachment.html
[mou] Fw: Cerulean Warbler - Red Wing
- Original Message - From: Phil Dech To: mou-net-request at cbs.umn.edu ; mnbird-request at lists.mnbird.net Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 5:20 PM Subject: Cerulean Warbler - Red Wing I birded Cannon Bottom Rd. this afternoon. The present-day road peters out just after it crosses the Cannon Valley Trail. A small parking area for the Trail is located there. The remnant of Cannon Bottom Rd. is an overgrown path that cuts across the Cannon River Bottom for about 3/4 mile, where it ends at Collischan Rd. I was about 1/4 mile in from the bridge at the Trail end. One passes underneath an arch of overgrown vegetation there. You can look up and see the underside of the top part of the canopy. At that point the path is perhaps 10-15 yards from the east branch of the Cannon River as it passes through the bottom. The bird was calling and actively foraging in the canopy almost directly over my head. I was able to watch him for about 5 minutes, and got some amazing looks from 8-10 feet away. Cannon Bottom Rd. is a left turn off Hwy 61 as one approaches Red Wing from the west, just before the Anderson Center on the outskirts of town. It is just west of Hwy 19. Phil Dech -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20070620/e2e488df/attachment.html
[mou] Barrow's Goldeneye - Red Wing
An adult male was with a mixed group of ducks visible from the east end of Colvill Park, behind the swimming pool complex, which is at the far end of the park from the entrance. A life bird for me. It was reasonably close, and not actively diving, so I got a good long look. I often had the benefit of seeing Common Goldeneyes in the scope at the same time so I could easily compare them. The crescent-shaped white patch on the cheek, extending above the level of the eye, was distinctive. The more compact bill was also quite noticeable. The head shape was more sloping but did not stand out to me as much as I was thinking it would. The black-and-white pattern on the side of the Barrow's was also quite a bit bolder than the Common, and I'm wondering whether this might be the best field mark to look for when scoping from a distance. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Ironically, I spent the morning with several other birders in Prescott, and we were unable to locate the Barrow's that has been reported there. I ended up finding one 5 minutes from my home. The Harlequin Duck was again seen in Prescott, we got a couple of brief looks at it from River Bend Nature Center just east of the marina. Phil Dech Red Wing -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080105/b148f662/attachment.html
[mou] r.e. Eagles in Red Wing Park?
Someone had asked about Bald Eagles in Red Wing. I visited Colvill Park yesterday and counted 35 Bald Eagles, roughly 3/4 of them mature. Activity is hit-or-miss, although I have more often seen them hunting while looking downriver from the eastern end of the park, the far end from the entrance. Phil Dech Red Wing -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080113/eabb42cc/attachment.html
[mou] Barrow's - Reads Landing, and Harlequin - Prescott
Both are still present. I saw the Barrow's this afternoon, from the town of Read's Landing on the street adjacent to the railroad tracks just a few blocks east of where CR-77 crosses Hwy 61. I wonder whether this might be the one that I saw in Red Wing just after New Year's. The large mixed flock of Goldeneyes and Mergansers that had been present in Red Wing at CBC and for a few weeks afterwards melted away, and I am not sure where they might have gone. There are a couple of scenic turn-offs just west of Reads Landing that had some open water which I checked out today. I saw a few Bald Eagles but no ducks. I spent about 20 minutes observing the Harlequin Duck at Prescott on Sun, 3/2. I found it quickly, it was actively feeding adjacent to the MN-side trestle of the railroad bridge. I saw him earlier this winter, but was able to get much better views the second time around. I was struck by how he pops out of the water like a cork after he dives, usually (at 20x) within the same scope view. I also saw a Robin in Prescott, hopefully a harbinger of Spring... Phil Dech Red Wing -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080304/61203044/attachment.html
[mou] Sewage pond access?
Okay, I admit that I do not have Kim Eckert's book memorized, though perhaps I should. I recently re-read his account of Wabasha County, which noted that the only sewage ponds in the county are in Bellechester. I live in Red Wing, and go to Zumbrota twice a week for work, so Bellechester is just a short detour along the way. I've been making the drive for the last few years, and hadn't figured this out. It would not be that hard for me to check these out from time to time, especially in migration. I checked them out a couple of weeks ago. They were easy to get to, frozen over of course, but I was rewarded by 20 or so Horned Larks on the gravel road to the gate. Any advice on getting permission to go in? Views for the far ponds from the gate would definitely be better. Thanks, Phil Dech Red Wing -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080315/14b95190/attachment.html
[mou] Eagle nests in Goodhue Co.
I checked out the nest at Hok Si La Park, Lake City, and also the one just west of the mile 14 marker along the Cannon Valley Trail, about 5 miles west of Red Wing. Both are active again this year. Lake Pepin has some open water along the shoreline, and I saw Common and Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, American Wigeons, and a pair of Redheads. Along the Cannon River I saw Song Sparrows and a FOY Eastern Phoebe. I startled a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers. (On the bike I sort of snuck up on them...) There are still plenty of Juncos. A small kettle of Turkey Vultures looped overhead. The Trail "officially" opens tomorrow, but there are still some sections covered with snow and ice. It was easily walkable, but the bike did some serious fishtailing. There is a place you can park and walk about 1 1/4 mile to where the Eagle nest is, e-mail if you would like directions Phil Dech Red Wing -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080331/b053d055/attachment-0001.html
[mou] American Woodcocks in SE MN?
I've never seen one, and of course we are at the time of year when they are easiest to observe. I live in Red Wing, and am hoping someone knows a fairly reliable spot within an area roughly bounded by the south Metro, Rochester, and Winona. You can contact me off-line. Thanks so much, Phil Dech -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080406/b07cdf94/attachment.html
