Here is a summary of recent reports from the Minnesota Birding Facebook group, starting with some specific sightings by date and concluding with a general summary.
3/23: Ronald Cordes reported a COMMON LOON on Hyland Lake in Bloomington. Dave Klein reported a PEREGRINE FALCON from his office, which looks out toward Black Dog Lake. 3/22: Jill Beim reported a WILSON'S SNIPE at Sherburne NWR. There were two reports of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Julie Zempel reported two individuals in Carver County, on Eagle Lake in Baylor Park. Greg Jahner also reported two individuals at the Grey Cloud Island causeway (Hazen P. Mooers Park) in Washington County. 3/21: SNOWY OWLS are still being reported in the northern portion of the state. Larry Wilebski photographed and reported one from Lancaster County and Charles Bush reported at least three, two of which were southeast of Warren, and one of which was a few miles north of Crookston. Mike Hendrickson reports that individuals are still being seen in the area around Superior, WI. Jan Chapman reported a PEREGRINE FALCON in St. Michael (Wright County). 3/20: Tod Eggenberger reported multiple displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCKS at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Dakota County. In southern Aitkin County, Susan M. Smith reported a drumming RUFFED GROUSE. Deanna Uphoff reported a PEREGRINE FALCON from the Mayo Clinic. 3/18: In Faribault County, Clinton Nienhaus reported enormous numbers of SNOW, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED, and CANADA GEESE in the fields and wetlands east of Winnebago. He also reported a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, as well as a lingering NORTHERN SHRIKE (on 3/17). General summary: Various people are reporting arrivals or increased numbers of WOOD DUCK, SONG SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE, SANDHILL CRANE, NORTHERN HARRIER, and AMERICAN KESTREL. Waterfowl numbers and diversity are continuing to increase. Some folks are still seeing lingering AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, and reports from Duluth indicate that numbers of PINE SISKINS and COMMON REDPOLLS are rapidly declining, though some individuals are still in the area. Lone Pine Siskins are still being reported as far south as Sucker Lake (Ramsey Co., Abrahm Simons) and Carpenter Nature Center (Washington Co., eBird report). Finally, as previously reported by Jesse Ellis, there have been no further reports of the Brainerd Brambling found and photographed by John Richardson. Peter Nichols Cottage Grove Washington 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
