[mou] MOU RBA 1 May 2003

[Anthony X. Hertzel]

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Tuesday, May 1st.

As reported on last Monday's and Tuesday's unscheduled updates of 
this tape, several rarities have shown up during the week. On April 
29th Frank Nicoletti reported a potential second state record BLACK 
VULTURE from near Enger Park in Duluth. The vulture floated directly 
northward and was soon out of sight and people searched for it into 
the evening, no one has been able to relocate it.

On the evening of April 29th, Doug Kieser reported a ROCK WREN at 
Acacia Park Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Dakota County. It was seen 
on the wall between the two buildings at the entrance.  Doug watched 
it for a few minutes when it then flew to the top of the north 
building. Acacia Park Cemetery is on Pilot Knob bluff overlooking the 
Mendota Bridge. Cross the Mendota Bridge going south on state highway 
55. At the first light turn right on state highway 13 and right again 
at the next light onto Pilot Knob Road. Go north to the top of the 
hill and turn into the cemetery at the intersection. The wren has 
been seen daily and was reported as recently as May 1st.

A potential third state record WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen near Moose 
Lake near Ely, St. Louis County on both the 24th and 25th. I know 
nothing about this report other than that the bird was reported on 
the 28th and has not been seen since the 25th.

A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was reported by Tony Sullins at Lake 
Hiawatha in south Minneapolis, Hennepin County. He found the bird on 
the 26th along the northeastern shore of the lake between the golf 
course and the park. Another was seen on the 25th in a residential 
neighborhood one half mile southwest of Jefferson High School in 
Bloomington, Hennepin County.

A couple of GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES were at the 180th Street Marsh in 
Dakota County on the 26th.

Since April 29th, four reports of NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD have been 
called it. One was in Freeborn County on the 29th where Nancy Jackson 
found it along county road 13 about three quarters of a mile west of 
900th Avenue. Another Mockingbird was at the Bass Ponds in 
Bloomington, Hennepin County on May 1st. Check near the second pond 
east of the new Cedar Avenue bridge. Also in Bloomington a 
Mockingbird was at 84th Street and Irwin Road on the 24th near the 
Gerard Park condominiums. And a Mockingbird was at Hyland Park 
Reserve in Bloomington on the 27th near the group campsite at the 
south end of the park.

An adult CLARK'S GREBE was found among a total of 140 WESTERN GREBES 
at Thielke Lake, Big Stone County on the 25th.

At  Beaver Creek State Park in Houston County several LOUISIANA 
WATERTHRUSH were seen on the 27th at various locations along the 
stream that runs through the park.

A small flock of SMITH'S LONGSPURS was at Red Rock Prairie SNA on the 
27th. They were seen from the southeast corner of the preserve where 
the grass is relatively short. Red Rock Prairie is located in 
northeastern Cottonwood County, just a few miles east of Jeffer's 
Petroglyphs.

As is typical at this time of year, most of the reports coming in 
have been of shorebirds. A few AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were reported 
on the 27th. They were seen at the junction of Traverse County Roads 
4 and 53. On the 25th, a PIPING PLOVER was found along U.S. highway 
12, about one mile east of its intersection with U.S. highway 75 near 
Ortonville, Big Stone County. It was along the far edge of a pond on 
the north side of the highway. Another Piping Plover was at Lake 
Byllesby in Dakota County on the 27th. On the 30th, Jim Mattsson 
reported three AMERICAN AVOCETS at the west end of Lake Byllesby in 
Dakota County, and 11 American Avocets at the Albany sewage ponds in 
Stearns County on the 27th, As many as 19 WILLETS were at the Silver 
Creek Reservoir in Rochester, Olmsted County on the 27th and a few 
more were at the intersection of Redwood County Roads 5 and 4 on the 
24th. At least one LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was also seen here. Other 
shorebirds reported recently include SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, DUNLIN, 
LEAST SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, and UPLAND SANDPIPER.

Many other migrants have arrived in the past few days. Among them 
were SWAINSON'S HAWK, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, MARSH 
WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, NASHVILLE 
WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, ROSE-BREASTED 
GROSBEAK, SCARLET TANAGER, EASTERN TOWHEE, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and 
FIELD 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 8th.

-- 
Anthony Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com