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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *April 4, 1996 *MNST9604.04 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: April 4, 1996
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 April 4th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. At any time you can bypass this report to leave a message of your own by pressing 5 on any touch tone phone.
TUNDRA SWANS were reported from Lake Harriet in Mpls on March 29th, from South St. Paul on April 2nd, from the town of Ramsey also on the 2nd, and several hundred were reported from various locations in Big Stone County on March 31st.
Ray Glassel reports several GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Byllesby Reservoir in Dakota County on the 1st, and 50 were in Freeborn County at Walnut Lake on March 28th. 18 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were also seen at Hansen Lake in Big Stone County in late March.
An adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by several people at the Old Cedar Ave. Bridge in Bloomington on the afternoon of March 30th, but it has not been seen since. On the same day a GLAUCOUS GULL was reported from the Pine Bend Land Fill in Rosemount in Dakota County, and an unspecified number of THAYER'S GULLS were also apparently present there.
A GREAT GRAY OWL was still in Winona County as late as March 30th along state highway 74 just north of the town of Elba. Bob Zink called to report that a GREAT GRAY OWL was still in Washington County. The bird has been seen for several weeks in Grant Township just north of highway 96 off highway 62.
Recent Spring arrivals of which I have only a few reports include two SHORT-EARED OWLS, reported by Lane Elwanger in Big Stone County at the intersection of county roads 6 and 71 on March 31st. A single EASTERN PHOEBE was observed by Jim Burke at Lake Elmo Park reserve on April 2nd. TREE SWALLOWS were at Black Dog Lake on the 4th and WINTER WRENS were at the Bass Pond area of Bloomington on the 2nd.
The first HERMIT THRUSHES of the year were seen in the town of Crystal, and at Cedar Lake in Minneapolis. Both RUBY- CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were also reported from there as well as from the Old Cedar Ave Bridge in Bloomington.
And Amy Proffit reports finding a somewhat early FIELD SPARROW on the 29th of March at her feeder in Minneapolis.
Other more commonly reported migrants include GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRET, TURKEY VULTURE, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, KILLDEER, RING-BILLED and HERRING GULL, SANDHILL CRANE, BROWN CREEPER, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, AMERICAN ROBIN, SONG SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and COMMON REDPOLL.
Finally, on March 31st, Bob Janssen reports that in Nebraska, he located a Common Crane near Grand Island. This species is accidental to North America and was seen for only a couple of days. Anyone interested in updates of this bird can call the Nebraska birding report at 402-292-5325.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday April 11th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, location, phone number and a brief but specific message.