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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *April 11, 1996 *MNST9604.11 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: April 11, 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 11th 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.
Migration continues in a typical manner with some species being reported early, others late but the majority right on schedule.
I have a report of a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON from the small pond near France Ave and 66th street in Edina. However, several other people have called in to report BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS here, and it is possible that only Black-crowneds are present.
Two ROSS'S GEESE have been seen at the western edge of Lake Byllesby in Dakota County. The birds have been at the lake since April 5th.
A CINNAMON TEAL was reported on April 11th by Jim Pomplun from the Bass Ponds in Bloomington. He found the bird on Long Meadow Lake near the duck blind and though he watched it depart, but it may still be in the area. And Bill Stjern called to report that on April 5th he found an OLDSQUAW in a pond along highway 96 just east of Washington County road 15. Another OLDSQUAW has been frequenting a pond near the junction of Interstate 494 and Hardman Ave in south St. Paul.
COOPER'S HAWKS have been found nesting in the towns of St. Paul, St. Louis Park, and Bloomington.
87 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS were counted at the booming grounds near Rothsay on the 10th. SANDHILL CRANES can be seen along the trail connecting Mud Lake and Shields Lake in Rice County. This trail is just north of Dodd Road and west of the town of Shieldsville. You can also see cranes at Carlos Avery Refuge in Anoka County, and at Sherburne NWR in Sherbure County.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS were at the Bass Ponds in Bloomington on the 11th, and MARBLED GODWITS were near Rothsay on the 10th.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen by Peder Svingen on April 6th in Koochiching County near the town of Ranier. Peder also found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on April 6th, 8.3 miles north of the town of Roseau on state highway 10 in Roseau County.
PURPLE MARTINS returned to a martin house in White Bear Township on the 9th.
The first YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS of the season have begun showing up in recent days. I have reports from Olmsted County, from Cedar Lake in Minneapolis, and from Spring Brook Nature Center in Fridley.
A very early ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK showed up at Dave Cahlander's feeder on the 7th. This may be the earliest date on record for this species.
Other recent migrants typical of this time of year which have appeared in Minnesota in recent days include COMMON LOON, as many as nine loons were seen on the St. Croix River in Afton, HORNED GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, TUNDRA SWAN, GREAT EGRET, SNOW GOOSE, ROUGH- LEGGED HAWK, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, a single bird was found near the western border of Wirth Park between state highway 55 and Glenwood Ave.,NORTHERN HARRIER, NORTHERN FLICKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, TREE SWALLOW, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, both KINGLETS, CHIPPING SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday April 18th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, location, phone number and a brief but specific message.