Return to Home Page
-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *November 16, 1995 *MNST9511.16 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: November 16, 1995
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (612) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (tony@mill2.MillComm.COM)
This is the Minnesota birding report for Thursday November 16th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Though many of the recent unusual species reported recently have now apparently departed, several others are still around and additional species of interest have shown up over the past few days.
The fourth state record YELLOW-BILLED LOON was seen both on the 11th and the 12th on Mille Lacs in Crow Wing County. However, Karl Bardon reports that early on the morning of the 13th,he watched as the loon, far out on the lake, attempted to take off and circle back to its a feeding area closer to shore. Either due to ill health or injury, the loon was forced to crash land on the ice where it was now both vulnerable and helpless. A BALD EAGLE quickly came in, dispatched the loon and proceeded to eat the remains.
A WESTERN GREBE has been lingering on Lake Harriet. It was seen as recently as the 15th.
An adult SURF SCOTER was seen by Diane Anderson on November 12th. The bird was at the south end of Reads Landing, which is on Lake Pepin in eastern Wabasha County.
Interesting are the twenty six WILD TURKEYS found by Bruce Fall in a field along Winona County road 30, two miles west of County Road 74. This was on November 13th. The NORTHERN BOBWHITE seen in Dakota County are almost certainly released birds.
The probable GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, first reported last October 21st has been seen as recently as Tuesday, November 14th. Though unpredictable and often difficult to find, the Minneapolis city lakes continue to be the best place to search. On Friday, Saturday and again on Tuesday it was seen briefly at Lake of the Isles. It may also eventually show up at Black Dog Lake as the other city lakes begin to freeze. At least two of the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS are still in the area, and are being found on both Black Dog Lake in Dakota County and Lake Calhoun in Hennepin County. The adult Little Gull, which had been seen in Crow Wing County since the 11th, has been seen by numerous observers up until the 14th. The bird has been frequenting the shores of Mille Lacs from the town of Garrison south to St. Alban's Bay. A first winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was found Steve Dinsmore. The bird was at the port terminal in Duluth on the 11th, and on the 12th it was refound at Canal Park.
On November 11th, Peder Svingen found a GREAT GRAY OWL at the junction of U.S. Highway 2 and Minnesota Highway 200 in the extreme NE corner of Aitkin County. Peder also found a SNOWY OWL near the town of Malmo out on the ice of Mille Lacs. Another SNOWY OWL turned up in the Duluth port terminal on the 13th. A third SNOWY OWL was found by Belinda Dokken on the 13th along Pope County Road 24, two miles east of County Road 114. The second NORTHERN HAWK OWL of the season showed up in Duluth on November 13th. The bird was at the junction of Observation Road and Arlington Avenue. For updates on birds in and around the Duluth area, you can call the Duluth Birding Report at 218-525-5952.
There is a SUMMER TANAGER visiting a feeder in the town Minnesota City. Lynn Stansfield reports that the bird has been a regular at a feeder there since the 9th.
It may be a good year for winter finches. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were at Carlos Avery Refuge on the 10th of November. COMMON REDPOLLS have been reported from Dakota, Crow Wing and Mille Lacs Counties, HOARY REDPOLLS were in Mille Lacs and Cass Counties, and PINE GROSBEAKS are being reported across the northern third of the state.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, November 23rd. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, phone number and a brief but specific message.