This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday June 19th. On the 15th, there were two WHITE-FACED IBIS in Big Stone County's Toqua Township. They were in a pothole on the north side of County Road 54, 1.2 miles west of County Road 61. Also present were seven AMERICAN AVOCETS, and a single HUDONIAN GODWIT.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was at Farmes Pool in Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall County on the 16th. It was seen on the south side of the pool throughout the day, but has not been seen since. On June 11th, Bob Russell found a couple of SNOWY EGRETS on the north side of County Road 16, one half to one-and-a-half miles east of County Road 41. Snowy Egrets have previously nested at nearby Lake Johanna. A CLARK'S GREBE was found on Timm Lake in southern Yellow Medicine County on the 15th. The Basic-plumaged male CINNAMON TEAL was still at the 140th Street Marsh in Dakota County on the 16th. Directions to the marsh are: From U.S. Highway 52, take the County Road 42 exit then go east about one quarter of a mile to the first left. Drive this road, which becomes 140th Street, for about a mile. YELLOW RAILS can be heard in many places near McGregor in Aitkin County. At least three are present to the west of the Fireside Restaurant just north of state highway 210 on state highway 65, and there are at least five birds were along 65 in the first mile south of 210, plus at least four more along 65 near the intersection with the dead end gravel road about 2.5 miles south of 210. At least two COMMON MOORHENS are being seen at Hamden Slough in Becker County. The directions are: drive north from the town of Audubon on highway 13 to the Hamden Slough headquarters sign, then turn east past the headquarters building to the intersection just beyond the lake. Turn left and drive three-quarters of a mile to where there is a lake on the left and a small pond on the right. The moorhens were in the small pond as recently as the 16th. A GREAT GRAY OWL was in the Sax-Zim Bog of St. Louis County on the 17th. It was seen along County Road 7 about four miles south of Stone Lake Road. Another Great Gray Owl was seen in Aitkin County on the 18th about 100 yards down the snowmobile trail that runs south of the junction of County Road 18 and Pietz's Road. Several NORTHERN BOBWHITE have been reported from Fillmore County. A few are being seen at the home of Darryl and Betty Masters near Canton. They welcome visitors but ask that birders please be quiet and do not come to the door. Directions: take U.S. Highway 52 to Canton, then take Fillmore County 21 south for a mile to County Road 30. Go east 1/2 mile and stop at the first home on the left. This state-wide birding report is brought to you and financially supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU). The MOU is Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. The report is composed from observations generously submitted by MOU members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this weekly update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at axhert...@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message. MOU members receive this report directly on MOU-net, the club's free e-mail listservice, which is available to anyone interested. For information contact David Cahlander at <da...@cahlander.com>. MOU members receive the organization's quarterly journal "The Loon" and the bimonthly magazine, "Minnesota Birding". For membership information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at moumemb...@yahoo.com. In cooperation with the Minnesota Office of Tourism, highlights of this hotline can be now heard at a toll free number which is available to callers outside the Twin Cities area. The number is 1-800-657-3700. The MOU is pleased to offer this service. Thank you, and good birding. The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, June 26th. -- Anthony Hertzel -- axhert...@sihope.com
