[mou] MOU RBA 24 April 2003

[Anthony X. Hertzel]

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, April 24th.

A pair of RED-THROATED LOONS was on Little Rock Lake in Benton County 
on the 22nd. The birds were seen from Benton Beach County Park on the 
north end of the lake but were gone by the afternoon of the 23rd. To 
get there, take U.S. Highway 10 north from St. Cloud to the town of 
Rice. At the stop lights, turn right then immediately take another 
right onto Benton County Road 2. Go about two and a half miles and 
turn right into the park. Follow the road to the boat access.

On the 21st a WHITE-FACED IBIS was reported from Lino Lakes in Anoka 
County. It was seen in a flooded field at the southwest corner of the 
intersection of 12th Avenue and Birch Street.

At the Gilman sewage ponds in Benton County, Herb Dingmann reports 
finding a CINNAMON TEAL on April 23rd. The ponds are located half a 
mile southwest of Gilman on Benton County Road 3, and the teal was in 
the back pond.

A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Dobbin's Creek in an area known 
as Sutton Park in the east part of Austin, Mower County. The location 
is near the small creek that flows out of East Side Lake and the bird 
was seen in the stretch between the second bridge and the railroad 
trestle.

Interesting was the YELLOW RAIL reported on the 18th from Carlos 
Avery WMA in Anoka County. It was heard about 200 yards south of the 
headquarters driveway on the east side of Zodiac St. NE.

On the 18th a VARIED THRUSH showed up for one day at the home of 
Collette Leonhardt in Kelliher, Beltrami County. This is about 45 
miles north of Bemidji. Another Varied thrush was seen in Hubbard 
County three miles south of Park Rapids near the Straight River on 
the 19th.

A pair of GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES is being reported from the Sleepy Eye 
sewage ponds in Brown County. They've been seen here since at least 
the 18th.

A few CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS were seen along the Longspur Road 
at the Felton Prairie in Clay County on the 18th.

Other recent spring arrivals include WESTERN GREBE, GREEN HERON, 
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, WINTER WREN, 
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BROWN THRASHER, CHIPPING SPARROW, LINCOLN'S 
SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

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 
axhertzel@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 <david@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 
moumembers@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, May 1st.

-- 
Anthony Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com