We were able to relocate a Snowy Owl first seen by Jeff Schultz
earlier in the week (Tuesday). We saw the bird today (Thursday) at
10:30. Thanks, Jeff!
Location: from the town of Ottertail go north on Hwy 78 for about 1.5
miles. Three large potato barns will be on the west side of the
Here is a reminder for prospective contributors of
articles and photographs to the November/December 2011 issue of
Minnesota Birding newsletter. The upcoming deadline: September 20,
2011
Please send articles for consideration to:
newslet...@moumn.org
Keep sending those wonderful photographs to:
Here's a gentle reminder concerning the July/August 2011 issue of
Minnesota Birding: articles, photos, and advertisements need to be
sent in by May 20.
Articles for consideration should be sent to: newslet...@moumn.org
Keep sending those wonderful bird photos to: desig...@moumn.org
Send
Here's a gentle reminder concerning the May/June 2011 issue of
Minnesota Birding. Articles, photos, and advertisements need to be
sent in by March 20.
Articles for consideration should be sent to: newslet...@moumn.org
Keep sending those stunning bird photos to: desig...@moumn.org
Send
A Deadline: Here is a reminder for prospective contributors of
articles and photographs to the March/April 2011 issue of Minnesota
Birding. The upcoming deadline looms ahead: January 20, 2011
An Invitation: We are looking for some REAL STORIES OF MINNESOTA BIRDERS
In this day and age of
From: jeff schultz jschu...@lakesplus.com
Date: January 2, 2011 2:40:02 PM CST
Subject: Towhee post
The male Eastern Towhee that has been at my feeders in Ottertail
since November has made it to the new year. Unfortunately our CBC
was cancelled so he won't get counted. It was good to see him
. The bird
was seen down in the river just before you actually reach the trestle.
Based on his previous experiences with Harlequins here, Steve
predicts the bird will stay throughout the winter somewhere along the
river.
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
An Eastern Towhee continues to show up at the feeders of Jeff
Schultz, who lives near the town of Ottertail in Otter Tail County.
The feeders cannot be seen from a public road, and there is a long
driveway to the farmstead. So if you're interested in visiting his
Towhee, you'll need to
spotted a Golden Eagle at the Rothsay prairies.
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
today. Bummer.
Apparently, they were male and female with the male in full breeding
regalia. They had been seen most reliably off the southern shore of
the lake throughout the days of Monday and Tuesday.
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou
...or a detour.
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
A male Brown-headed Cowbird has been coming in to our feeders today
(3/23). Recent records suggest that he's about two weeks earlier than
usual for our area.
--Dan Sandy
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
Thanks to a tip from Steve Millard, we observed an Ibis species at
3:00 this afternoon (11/20) south of the town of Fergus Falls in
Western Township (in the extreme southwest corner of the county).
Even with scopes, the bird was simply too distant for us to determine
anything about it
our mortality.
Observers: Dan Sandy Thimgan, Jeff Schultz, Tom Egeberg
--Dan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
such a checklist and his directions,
the above escapade would not have happened.
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
joined in here with an unrelenting number of attacks
which included several direct pecks to the squirrel’s head.
Being a parent is not work for the faint of heart!
--Dan ( Sandy) Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa
observed, including one on the verge
of death. Apparently, all birds were young Grackles.
Would this be a single nest-specific type of parasitism or possibly
something contagious? Thanks for any enlightenment.
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave
during that one hour = 218. That’s a lot of
encores!
Dan ( Sandy) Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
According to the host family (sorry if that sounds like foreign
exchange student jargon, but guess that's really sort of accurate),
as of Wednesday afternoon, that female Lazuli Bunting is still being
regularly seen at the Ronningen home on the west side of Star Lake,
west of the town of
as previously reported by Jeanie Joppru:
Alma Ronningen lives on CR 41 south of MN 108. It's about 3.9 miles
south from 108.
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
Archives:http://lists.umn.edu
The colonial nesting islands on two lakes in residential Fergus Falls
(Otter Tail Co) are back in business.
Lake Alice, the bigger lake in the north part of town, has two
islands. The bigger of the islands is now primarily the nesting
island for Double-crested Cormorants with nesting Great
,
Sharp-shinned, and Rough-legged Hawks, and Herring Gull.
Still lots of snow here and very little open water. A friend says:
Spring -- just like Winter but with more snow.
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi
the eternal
hopefulness of Spring!
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net
Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
And, speaking of harbingers of Spring, Horned Larks are indeed being
seen state-wide.
On Tuesday (3/3), we traveled across the state following a diagonal
line northwest (on the less heavily trafficked roads) from Goodhue
county in the southeast to our home county Otter Tail in the west-
It was only a few short years ago that the appearance of a single
Northern Cardinal at our feeders would occasion serious jumping up
and down, yelling at the top of your lungs, or even making a late
night phone call to your maiden aunt in Poughkeepsie. More recently
though, they have been
?ve read of eagles swimming but had never witnessed this eagle
placidly floating on the water behavior. Absolutely amazing, but
maybe a little more Life and Death action one would care to observe
before breakfast on a picture perfect morning in autumn?
Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle
but
couldn't spot it. The song was loud enough to be heard over the
sound of our lawnmower!
-- Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
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That Carolina Wren, who showed up at our place at dusk last evening,
has actively returned to our yard in rural Battle Lake. It has been
gleaning insects from the lattice-work on our deck and returning to
the same feeder nearest our deck. It has been reappearing at
intervals of five to
Rock Wren -- Friday, Sept. 19, 1:00 p.m. Inspiration Peak, Otter
Tail County
At the top of Inspiration Peak today, while lunching and watching for
raptors, we saw a wren-like bird land on top of a fence post about
50 feet away. The size and light color of the bird caught our
attention,
. A Nature Conservancy pull-off at the
base of the Seven Sisters Preserve is a perfect parking place just
across the road from the lake.
Another highlight was a sweeping fly-by of 50 Common Nighthawks while
we ate lunch on Inspiration Peak in adjoining Otter Tail Co.
---
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle
were NOT
able to see the undertail area of the gray doves, but we DID see
and photograph the undertail of a white dove -- and that looks
like what's pictured for African Collared-Doves (Ringed Turtle-
Dove). Apparent hybrids? We'll post our notes and photos to the MOU
site.
--Dan Sandy
have been named designated watchers in case the second young loon
puts in an appearance.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
--
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
-- next part --
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To our knowledge, the Common Moorhen being seen in Otter Tail County
was not refound today (Saturday). If we hear/see otherwise, we'll
alert the media.
Thimgans
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
-- next part --
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by phone (218)
862-5594 or email, and we'll give you additional information (this is
at the request of the owner). Sorry to be so Secret Agent about
this, but private property and absentee owners are involved here.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
-- next part
of 75 Ruddy Ducks on Rush Lake WPA
(pretty high cute quotient!).
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
-- next part --
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Just looking at the first Ruby Throated Hummingbird of the season
perched on the feeder. Only a few days late from last year's arrival
date of May 4th.
Happy spring
Sandy and Dan Thimgan
Otter Tail County
box
PPPS: just the nicest mix of sparrows in our feeder area today for
observation/study -- Song, Chipping, Swamp, White-throated,
Lincoln's, White-crowned
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
Otter Tail County
THE SENILITY PRAYER: Grant me the senility to forget the people I
never liked
on ?current year?s results) or, go the MOU site
--co-compilers Dan Sandy Thimgan
Fergus Falls CBC (12/15/07):
Twenty-two participants found 54 species, our second highest total ever.
The weather favored us, always a big plus. An undocumented gray jay turned
into a probable shrike. Good diversity always
We were NOT successful in relocating the Wadena county Three-toed Woodpecker
originally reported by Herb Dingmann.
We were at the location from 1:00 -2:30 pm on 1/3/08. Listening conditions
were excellent and we heard some tantalizingly close tapping, but could not
locate its source. We DID get
Common Grackle who
appears to be considering an attempt at over-wintering.
Our best,
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
, feel free to call us: (218) 862-5594
--Dan Sandy Thimgan
PS: Jeanie reports that the dove has been hiding out under the evergreens,
but still making regular appearances.
--
Thimgans
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake MN
A pair of RED HEADED WOODPECKERS have been in our neighborhood and in our
yard all day today (Friday). What a treat! They are in prime plumage and
vocalizing loudly as well. We hope we can entice them to stay.
Sandy and Dan Thimgan
Otter Tail County
--
Thimgans
Human beings are the only
Our International Migratory Bird Day group wallowed in glorious spring
weather on Saturday as we birded Otter Tail County. From the center of the
county to Fergus Falls then south and west to Western Township (for prairie
and wetland birds)then meandering back to the central part of the
On this mid-summer like day we added:
OSPREY
HOUSE WREN
BANK SWALLOW
NORTHERN ROUGH WINGED SWALLOW
Sandy and Dan Thimgan
Otter Tail County
--
Thimgans
People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a
confession of character. --Ralph Waldo Emerson
On our morning walk -- heard the call of HARRIS' SPARROW and had a group of
8 fly around us in a hedge in a nearby field. We hadn't heard them call
much before and rarely have had a look at that many together -- Wild Kingdom
moment.
Also in the past couple days:
GREEN HERON
GRAY CATBIRD
CLIFF
Rose Breasted Grosbeak and Baltimore Oriole arrived today -- probably
arrived a day early because of the 40 mile an hour winds! Good to see them
nonetheless.
Sandy and Dan Thimgan
Otter Tail Coutny
--
Thimgans
I did absolutely nothing and it was better than I thought it could be.
Ruby Throated Hummingbird arrived at our syrup feeder today at noon -- can
the orioles be far behind?
Sandy/Dan Thimgan
Otter Tail County
--
Thimgans
Keep your faith in beautiful things:
in the sun when it is hidden, in the spring when it is gone. Gilson
strike in our
sun room today. A moment later, we spooked a Cooper's Hawk who was in the
process of efficiently collecting and airlifting his stunned prey (an
unidentified black bird) out of the yard. Another Wild Kingdom moment!
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake MN
Two Common Loons were seen today (3/31) in central Otter Tail County on Deer
Lake where the Otter Tail River flows in from Otter Tail Lake. Note that
the bridge at this location along CR 83 is closed because the new bridge is
presently being installed.
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake MN
Otter
from our deck!
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
at the head of a U-shaped
driveway.
The property owners have been contacted. They were interested and OK with
birders visiting and staring at their houses with binoculars from Oak Leaf
Lane.
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake MN
Otter Tail County
Pheasants and Prairie Chickens.
Earlier in the day, we had a pair of Rusty Blackbirds stop at our home
feeders.
Thanks to Steve Millard for the initial tip on the Short-ears.
Dan Sandy Thimgan, Jeff Schultz
Otter Tail County
Moment. Truly
cool!
--Dan
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake MN
inside the locked compound, so -- as
explained in earlier email messages -- you'll need to call Steve and Jo
Blanich at (218)546-5939.
Thanks to Steve and Jo, visiting birders have access to these ponds.
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake MN
Not to besiege everyone with redundant reports about this bird, but in case
anyone from some distance is thinking of traveling to see it:
The Purple Sandpiper was still visible today, Friday Sept 29, at 5:15 p.m..
We had our own personal campground hosts, Kim Risen and Philip Chu, waiting
at
were seen loafing/preening/begging on the embankment. A scope is helpful
but not required.
There were a few large rafts of American Coot starting to gather on nearby
Lake Christina (about 5 miles north of Ashby), as well as a few Western
Grebes.
Bird on!
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
the county road if they are out in the open. Patience is required as
there are many cattails to hide in. One adult and three chicks were seen
on Sunday.
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake MN
indeed! Peering around the house, we finally got a full frontal view
of the bird. It was a..plastic penguin!
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
This morning, alerted by Carole Brysky Glendalough Campground host, we stood
at the entrance to Glendalough State Park and listened to a Henslow's
Sparrow calling on the west side of the entrance road, in the area of the
two circular wetlands. Carole has been hearing the bird on this road with
On Saturday's International Migratory Bird Day, we cruised Otter Tail County
from Ottertail city to Battle Lake/Fergus Falls to Western Township and back
to Glendalough State Park finding a solid 121 species.
Best birds were Eurasian Collared-Dove (3) in the town of Ottertail.
Also, Virginia Rail
, Brewer's Blackbird, Cliff Swallow, and a
Canada Goose/nest with 6 eggs within 1 yard of the pavement on CR 112 (if
you were to pull off the road, your car would literally straddle the nest).
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
New this weekend for this season:
Saturday, April 22 early CLAY COLORED SPARROW
Sunday, April 23: BROWN THRASHER
Sandy and Dan Thimgan
Otter Tail county
Battle Lake MN
An early Palm Warbler made a stop in our yard this morning (4/19).
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
Otter Tail County
Friday, April 7, our first warbler of the season, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER--got
good looks as he hit a window and landed on our deck, but after an hour and
a quarter of regrouping, he took off, thankfully.
Sandy and Dan Thimgan
Otter Tail County
--
Thimgans
Forget mistakes. Forget failures. Forget
that if you plan a pilgrimage to the Crane, that a sighting is not
necessarily a lock.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
Spring is moving things around!
At Glendalough State Park: American Woodcock, (they have one spot in the
park where they consistently are found. Always nice to walk to a specific
spot and have the bird show up like clockwork:-)))
April 5:
Golden-crowned Kinglet and our first female Red-winged
Sunday, March 26
Otter Tail County
Checking open water spots on the Otter Tail River and area lakes:
Northern Pintail =80 2 males, 1 female (Deer Lake)
Rough Legged Hawk, dark phase (Hwy 78, 1 mile north of Battle Lake)
Herring Gull =80 3 (Otter Tail Lake)
Trumpeter Swan =80 40 (various
Spent about 4 hours birding Wilkin county today and it was a delight.
Especially awesome was the plethora of Rough Legged Hawks, as noted in
Patrick Beauzay's and John Ellis' posts earlier.
We saw:
45+ Rough Legged Hawks: We saw all manner of phases/morphs, a great way to
study them. We were
couple of days at this site: Trumpeter Swan, Redhead,
Lesser Scaup, Wood Duck, Common Merganser, American Coot, Bald Eagle,
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, etc.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
Otter Tail Co.
first Lapland Longspurs (11) and Snow
Buntings (100) of the year along Hwy 78 south of the town of Battle Lake
near where the highway intersects with CR 126.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail Co.
Battle Lake, MN
watching from the tractor cab!)
Northern Shrike
Snow Bunting (flock of 50)
Bird On!
-
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail Co.
Battle Lake, MN
is free and open to the public. Food and refreshments will be
served.
--submitted on behalf of the Friends of the PWLC of Fergus Falls
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
, just within Douglas Co. From Osakis, take CR 3 north from town 1
mile and turn right (East) on CR 10. The boat launch is a little over 2
miles from this intersection.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
to the Gravel Pit area. The north gate is the best. Rock piles
6002/6006 are just to the left as you enter through this gate.
Thanks to Scott and Doug who brought luck with them.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail Co.
Battle Lake, MN
shorebirds and waterfowl really in pretty short supply (4 other
shorebird species, 7 waterfowl, no gulls or terns).
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
spot which was in close proximity to the road). Several other
birders were there, as well.
The location: 2 miles west of the town of Aitkin on CR 15. (note: to find
yourself on CR 15, leave town on 4th St NW which becomes CR 15).
-
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Co birds of interest:
Lots of duck species, our first Turkey Vulture and Great Egrets of the
season (17 were staking out claims on the small nest island in Lake Alice in
residential Fergus Falls). And, our first Chorus Frogs.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
quite a few! note: We saw the GGOwl
at about 3:30 in the afternoon.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
, no
other birder and no local resident we spoke to had seen the bird today.
Serves us right for being Dan-and-Sandy-Come-Latelys!
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
was actively
feeding on the far shore to the left of a small assortment of rocks.
Directions from a previous post:
From the junction of Big Stone County Roads 12 and 10 go east .4 miles east
on County Road. Turn north on unmarked dirt road for 3/4 of a mile.
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
with park manager, Jeff Wiersma.
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail Co.
Battle Lake, MN
. This
is the area where the bird was seen.
All four observers got two, good, unobstructed views within 20 yards of the
bird. A thrill!
observers: Dan Sandy Thimgan, Eddy Judy Edwards
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
Otter Tail County
A White-faced Ibis is still being seen near Fergus Falls in Otter Tail
County. We observed it today (Tuesday) from about 2:00 - 2:30.
Today the bird was on the south side of the wetland, not on the road side.
He was fraternizing with 4-5 egrets and seemed very comfortable, while the
egrets would
perimeter markings on face
are distinct. We took a few pics for verification.
Don't know who first spotted the bird, but Eddy Edwards contacted us.
Thanks, Eddy!
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
The Chestnut-collared Longspurs have returned to their favorite spot in Clay
County along the Longspur Highway in the Felton Prairie area. We saw a
loose flock of at least five individuals up close and personal at about noon
today (Thursday).
--
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
Sandy Thimgan
Battle Lake, MN
Otter Tail Co.
thim...@digitaljam.com
^..^
in the above directions, continue traveling on County 19 for
approx. .5 miles to a small wetland on the east side of the road.
***
Dan Sandy Thimgan
Otter Tail County
Battle Lake, MN
thim...@digitaljam.com
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