[mou-net] Sad News
Merrill Frydendall passed away Sunday. I treasured the conversations with Merrill while working at Pet Expo. A memorable day riding with him and Karen and I believe Chad Heins on a day trip 20 years ago with the Bend of the River Birders group was sorta like a ride-along with the elite and I was a bit star struck I must admit. After returning home I talked about the day til my wife was covering her ears. Merrill like all great teachers was a great listener and responded to the simplest questions kindly and treated my modest observations with interest. He particularly peaked my interest Eastern Bluebirds and their nesting habits. My bluebird housing projects have been minuscule compared to his, but he always showed great interest in my efforts. In a few words Merrill was not only a great teacher, but a very nice man. John Nelson Good Thunder, MN General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
[mou-net] Orioles
Presently 20 Baltimore and a pair of Orchard Orioles along with 4 Gray Catbirds are competing for 10 grape jelly stations. I just put out the third two pound jar of jelly which may not last until dark. This is going to be a hard night for our “tropical” birds. We’ve seen female orioles carrying nesting material. John Nelson Beauford 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] Summer Tanager
A juvenile Summer Tanager appeared at our grape jelly feeders early this morning. Baltimore Orioles not welcoming it. After my return from an appointment it has not appeared. John Nelson Beauford, 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] Backyard
Two rare appearances in our backyard feeders this afternoon, a female Summer Tanager and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. John Nelson Good Thunder 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] Redbelly Babes
Surprised to observe a female Red- bellied WP feeding two begging fledglings at a peanut feeder this morning. Very late hatch or second hatch? Any ideas? John Nelson Good Thunder MN Sent from my iPad 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] Black-necked Stilt
My wife and I found a Black-necked Stilt in a flooded field east of Good Thunder approximately a mile south of BE Cty 10 on 557 Ave at 2:00 this afternoon. John Nelson Good Thunder, MN PH 507-278-3949 Sent from my iPad 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] FOY Baltimore Orioles
Two different males at grape jelly feeders, the past hour. John Nelson Good Thunder, MN Sent from my iPad 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] FOY Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Our earliest ever Rose-breasted Grosbeak hopped onto a tray feeder this morning. Bad timing on its part given the nasty weather. Our annual spring visit by a Brown Thrasher also took place this morning. John Nelson Good Thunder, MN Sent from my iPad 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 Grackle
A Common Grackle has visited our feeder areas the past two days. John Nelson Good Thunder MN Sent from my iPad 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] Orchard Orioles
We have been watching closely the many Baltimore Orioles feeding young birds for the past several days in hopes of seeing fledgling Orchards. We were pleased, this noon, to see a male adult Orchard feeding a young male at the grape jelly. Gray Catbirds have been Feeding youngsters, now we wait for the first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker fledgling. John Nelson Good Thunder MN Sent from my iPad 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] Varied Thrush
Spoke with Jill and Jerry Binstock this morning and they said the Varied Thrush continues to be a regular daily visitor. John Nelson Good Thunder Sent from my iPad 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] Losing HSP
Watched a beautiful adult male Sharp-shinned Hawk lite in a shrub outside the bay window briefly before pouncing on a HSP. It flew to a nearby log to feast. Later we found another pile of HSP feathers nearby. Along with 6 in the sparrow trap we aren't even making a dent in the population prior to Eastern Bluebird nesting time. The 4 pm Northern Cardinal show yesterday numbered 21 a record high for our PFW count and equalling our all time high. John Nelson Good Thunder MN Sent from my iPad 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] 2 new birds
FOY Green Heron at a flooded roadside 1/2 mile east of Perch Lake Cty153 Blue Earth Cty FOY Red-headed Woodpecker at 2:00 checked out all my empty suet logs and peanut feeders before perching on the platform feeder 5' from the bay window--very special. Everything now full, hope for a return - and yes a photo. John Nelson Good Thunder MN Sent from my iPad 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] FOY Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Our first of year male RBG appeared at the feeders this noon. On the west end of Lura Lake this afternoon we found 15 Western Grebes. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to observe several pair perform their courtship dance for us. John and Donna Nelson Good Thunder MN Sent from my iPad 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] FOY Yardbirds
Early this afternoon our first Gray Catbird. Presently a first year Baltimore Oriole is enjoying grape jelly. Earlier the same bird was on a suet feeder. John Nelson Good Thunder MN Sent from my iPad 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] Orchard Oriole
A male Orchard Oriole has found a nectar feeder in a planter we had moved to a sheltered spot on the deck for shelter from this incredible wind. John Nelson Good Thunder 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 Sparrows
At one point this afternoon I counted 12 Harris's all foraging dandelion seed in one small area of the lawn. FOY White-crowed Sparrows showed up today, normal mix of white and tan crown. John Nelson Good Thunder 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] Orchard Oriole
Early this morning an FOY Orchard Oriole. Regrettably for our weekend visitors, this morning we are surrounded by singing Harris's Sparrows many in plain sight under our feeders. John Nelson Good Thunder 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] new arrivals
FOY This morning our first Baltimore Oriole appeared at the grape jelly feeders. Yesterday FOY Gray Catbird at jelly and House Wren began filling a nest box. Harris's Sparrows serenaded us this mrorning. John Nelson Good Thunder 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] hummingbird
Good Idea !! Earlier this afternoon I was hummed while sitting on the deck. I quickly put out several feeders and it (he), while rather shy, is using them. Still waiting for the Indigo and Tanagers. John Nelson Good Thunder MN On Thu, May 3, 2012 at 3:45 PM, Jeff Stephenson stephensonj...@charter.netwrote: Get out those feeders I just put my hummingbird feeder out and soon thereafter one appeared. Jeff Stephenson Olmsted County, Rochester MN Cell Phone 507 254 8194 Home Phone 507 289 7635 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] Saturday Birding
Spent Saturday morning on a birding outing with four sasoned members of the Mankato Bird Club. Although a member for sveral years it was my first oppurtunity to participate. The tour included the Northeast corner of Blue Earth County. It was an amazing experience for an admitted novice birder, as we identified 69 species alarge number of which expanded my life list. We were disapointed to miss Wild Turkey, Bald Eagle, and Eastern Blue Bird. Happily I saw first two on the way home, and shortly after a pair of the latter began examination of one of my houses. My wife and I were able to install our nest cam and later I found that the female had begun forming a cup in the wood chips. I can only hope to someday consider myself close to you true birders. John Nelson Near Beauford
[mou] Frustrated and Confused
Item 1: Four Grebes on a pond near Beauford. Which Grebes? Since it it was so dark this morning color was not a factor, however, they definitly were not Western Grebes. Size makes me lean to Red-Neck,how likely is that? The thing that caught my eye was the very prominent ears and straight bill. Item 2: Warblers must have been created for the same purpose as Soduku. In my lilacs never sitting still, of course, olive to yellow Warbler seemed to have a dark eye ring, couldn't tell eye color. Item 4: A Sparrow not 15 feet away working diligently among dead asparagus, not the least interested in me. Not a Fox not quite big enough, nor with the foxy color. Distinctly striped on the breast, dark bill, and tan and gray stripe on head. Lincoln's Sparrow? Also; Most numerous duck at all locations-Ring-Necks 40+ Canvasback on one end of Perch Lake 10 Redheads still on CR168 pond several pairs of Greater Scaup on various ponds quite a few of same on Perch well out from shore 1 Green- Wing Teal 1 pair of Common Goldeneye American Shoveler Wood-Duck Bufflehead Canada Geese Great Blue Heron Pheasant 42 Juncos ground feeding around feeders Chickadees WB Nuthatches Downy, Hairy, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers Blue Jays 34 Goldfinches- down from last weekend Brother-in-law rural east of Lura Lake had 3 Brown Creepers on tree near his house on Tuesday, an Immature Bald Eagle in a large Cottonwood in his grove, and a Rough-Legged Hawk did a flyoverWednesday morning. JohnNelson Near Beauford
[mou] Sunny but windy
Yesterday early run to Mapleton from Beauford: Small ponds just east of Beauford and north CR10 the west pond pretty much iced, which concentrated a group of 12 Ring-necks, 4 Blue-wing teal, a pair of Shovelers, and in the middle a Canada-very cute The larger pond on the eastside about 75% iced but looking directly into the low sun coudn't really identify any of the numerous ducks definitively Just down CR10 from there a small pond alonside the road that gives about as close as possible without a blind ducks there seem to be used to traffic there are two sets of Wood-duck houses posted there and a male on sitting on each gorgeous in the morning sun My favorite pond north of Perch Lake held a large number of Ring-Necks a few Blue-Wing Teal, 2 pair of Buffleheads, some Mallards, a pair of Pintails, 3 pair of Wood-Ducks, and 12 Red-Heads and with bright sun their heads stood out beautifully. The Pintails flew in and lit, while I watched, spectacular. Percch Lake was windswept and large numbers of ducks were congregated on the lee side ,which was a long way away, but on the roadside not far out there were two groups of divers. One was difficult because they were bouncing all over in the waves, but sense was that they were One of the Scaup as they were much more white on their sides than Ring-Necks. The other were easily identifiable as Canvas-Backs. On a hill off the south shore is a beautiful Surrounded by large Cottonwood and Oak trees, my wife and I counted 10 Wood-Ducks sitting in the trees, and two more lit when we drove away. I stopped using Ring-Bill when I realized they could be gulls as well as ducks. Couldn't help wondering what it was like around here before WE came. More ponds, marshes,small lakes, and the noise around same must have been deafening in the spring. John Nelson Near Beauford
[mou] Egrets near Mapleton
On a short trip from Beauford to Mapleton early this morning saw: one Great Egret and from their size two Snowy Egrets (wouldn't show their heads- don't blame them it's nasty out there!) many Flickers along the road and on power poles looked like Boxelder Bugs on the side of the house at times small potholes in sheltered areas held the most ducks Ring-Necks the most numerous a few Canvasbacks,Buffleheads, Pelicans still here two rooster Pheasants along the road which the Goldens enjoyed, especially the four month old no I don't hunt just to head off any comment A mile east of Mapleton on CR 21 a Kestrel in nest box entrance house mounted on south side of the road- gave me a good long look- camera at home late this afternoon CR 10 west just out of Beauford a Pileated Woodpecker flew over -capped the day nicely John Nelson Near Beauford
[mou] First Bluebirds
A pair of Bluebirds were checking out a house this morning, as usual I don't have the nest cam set up yet, and won't for a few days given the weather. They're not likely to stay or nest yet anyway. We've been able to watch and tape a pair of Bluebirds followed by a pair of Tree Swallows build nest,lay, hatch feed and fledge 8-10 of each the past two years. Fascinating. It always seems that the last to leave the nest has the needs the most coaxing. This mornings trip to Mapleton took me by Perch Lake and while there far fewer gulls, a hundred or more White Pelicans, most on the lee shore. More ducks on the small potholes, including the first Green- Wing Teal I've identified here. Was able to follow a 10 Pintails sail in and lite. What a beautiful sight. Also I was able to follow a Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk) in flight for a few minutes. I enjoy using the local,common, colloquial names for some of the birds, because it brings back memories past (and they are often far more colorful). I learned ducks from my Dad in the 50s when Wood Ducks were so rare they were illegal to hunt. At Swan Lake,near Nicollet Snow Geese and Blue Geese (the latter considered a separate species at that time, while Canada Geese were rare. John Nelson Near Beauford
[mou] Old names
Thanks Jim., I forgot the Sparrow Hawk. Jhn Nelson
[mou] Mapleton area
Observed last several days on potholes north of Mapleton. Shoveler(Spoonbill) Ringneck(Ringbill) American Widgeon(Baldpate) Bluewing Teal Bufflehead Pintail Canvasback Redhead Common Merganser Gadwall Mallard Wood duck Both Scaup(Bluebill)Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Giant Canada Goose Great numbers of Flickers along roads Red-Tail Hawk Broad-Wing Hawk Northern Harrier Kestrel(numerous-one in a house on power pole) Sharp-Shinned Hawk Pheasant Redwing Blackbird PerchLake-Hundreds of gulls-haven't identified Two Trumpeter Swans One Immature-One with collar Any info as on who collared it? Photo to follow John Nelson Near Beauford
[mou] Abbreviations
Sorry about the abbreviations, it' what I've always used in messages to PFW members. John Nelson Near Beauford
[mou] Cackling Geese
After reading the replies to my goose query, I'm still confused. The pair standing near the pair of Giant Canadas were not the size half that of the Giants and twice the size of a Mallard. John Nelson Near Beauford
[mou] birds in the snow
AMAZING DAY 3-31. 29 and 30 had few birds at the feeders,just the usual suspects BCC, WBN,DWP,RBW,BJ,no Juncos, no Goldfinches. As the snow started on 31, 100-150 Grackles came in along with 55 Juncos and 38 Goldfinches ( aren't they gaining color fast?). They were all there until late afternoon and were joined by 4 male and three female Cardinals. There was some competition going on with the latter. As I was standing in my garage wondering if the snow would ever stop, a Sharp Shinned Hawk flew up our hillside into the woods carrying a bird, which I couldn't identify, although my sense was Junco. I have found two bunches of Junco feathers in the in the past week and on one occasion saw a small hawk chase a Junco into the woods. ? To date myself and my Peterson guide what is a Cackling Goose? I observed and got a good picture of a pair of Giant Canadas at Loon Lake- near Lake Crystal on 3-30, standing near what I call Lesser Canadas. Were the latter now called Cackling? I also got good pictures of White Fronts, Trumpeters (they're not in my Peterson guide either, although he mentions a flock being started in MN), Buffleheads,Canvasbacks,Ruddies, a pair of Pintails we had not seen until we blew up the picture of the Trumpeters, a flock of 12 Common Merganser in flight and a number of others on the water Shovelers (which I grew up to know as Spoonbills), and a number of Scaup (Bluebills). A fun thing happened again on the computer when we got home. I had taken a number of photos at 100x digital zoom. They aren't good pictures but helpful in identifying birds to far away for our 10x binoculars. The best example was a photo of 4 fast flying ducks app. 50 yds away. I got a glimpse, brought the camera up and shot. I figured the odds of the them being in frame at 100x were nil, but on the computer one was perfectly positioned to show the wing stripe extending nearly to the end of the wing. I couldn't tell they were Bluebills when we saw them and certainly not Lesser or Greater. After being a bird feeder for years , I'm working on a lifelist and the backyard keeps the list pretty short, I'm also finding bird identification in the field a little different than on a bird feeder outside the window. Tips would be appreciated. Also any tips on Lac Qui Parle would be helpful, I'm planning a trip this week. John Nelson Near Beauford and the Big Cobb R.
[mou] New birds
Four Fox Sparrows cleaning up under the feeders this morning, also a single Song Sparrow and 22 Juncos John Nelson Beauford, MN
[mou] New Arrivals
3/15 First Robin 2 Common Grackles 3/20 6 Robins eating Wentworth Viburnum berries 25+ Grackles sounding very springlike loudly 3/21 6 Rusty Blackbirds wife's horse poop an attractant -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080321/a08c1f70/attachment.html
[mou] Brown Creeper
My wife mentioned the Brown Creeper was out on the deck and a suet feeder this afternoon. A first for us 2 have been with us regularly since Christmas. In his Trib column a couple weeks ago Jim Williams mentioned, they would visit southern Minnesota in the winter months and spent most of the year north. I'm certain my first look at one was last summer. Our property (rural) is on the Cobb river valley wooded for the most part by Oak, Black walnut, Basswood, Cottonwood, and Ironwood. Could Brown Creepers be resident this far south? John Nelson West of Beauford
[mou] New at feeder
Two firsts at our house Wednesday. A Northern Shrike and two Brown Creepers. The Shrike lit in a large Viburnum near my feeder area for a few moments, then into a Cherry tree adjacent. The small birds vacated when he came in, but returned shortly. Th creepers first lit on a log suet feeder then flew to the base of the Cherry and worked a short way, before flying off. My first Northern Shrike. John Nelson near Beauford
[mou] recent sightings
Located south of Mankato on the Big Cobb river valley. These were firsts in eight years with Project Feederwatch,Cornell U. A Northern Flicker daily since early December. Two Redpolls since last Friday. A Pine Siskin or two only on occasion. I am counting Larger numbers of Cardinals, Chickadees, and Juncos than in the past eight years, as well.
