[mou] MOU RBA 22 May 2003

[Anthony X. Hertzel]

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 22nd.

On May 17th, six WHITE-FACED IBIS and a ROSS'S GOOSE were at the 
sewage ponds located behind Sham Lake in Lyon County. From state 
highway 23 go south on county road 11 for about three quarters of a 
mile and turn right on the small unmarked dirt road. Follow this road 
through the gate to the last pond and check the shoreline on the far 
side. Also of note was the first county record RED-THROATED LOON seen 
on Sham Lake on the same day.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were found nesting again in Caledonia, 
Houston County. Look near the transformer steel girder at East 
Lincoln and North Pine streets. Another Eurasian Collared-Dove was 
seen on the 20th in the town of Wheaton in Traverse County. It was 
seen along the main street near the grain elevators.

On the 18th a LITTLE GULL in 1st winter plumage was found in the 
Duluth Harbor in the bay near the airport at Park Point.

On May 15th, a male SUMMER TANAGER was at Lebanon Hills Park in 
Dakota County. From the parking lot near Holland Lake at Cliff Road 
and Lexington Avenue, in Eagan, follow the trail west around the 
lake. At the top of the first hill, take the trail to your right. Go 
passed the next trail, and then go right at the next trail 
intersection. A large arrow has been scraped on the ground here. 
Follow the trail passed the shelter, until you find a spot on the 
trail where 3 lines have been scraped across is\t. The bird was seen 
in the trees on the left. At Myre-Big Island State Park near Albert 
Lea a female SUMMER TANAGER was discovered on the 20th in the picnic 
area.

On the 17th a male KENTUCKY WARBLER was found at Williams Nature 
Center in Blue Earth County. Listen for him singing on the Lloyd 
Vollmer Trail North Loop. Williams Nature Center is on state highway 
68, three quarters of a mile west of U.S. Highway 169.

As many as ten BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were heard singing on 
territory on May 17th on the western slope of Moose Mountain in Cook 
County. Hike the trails up the mountain and listen for the birds 
singing in the early morning.

Bob O'Connor found a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in Gooseberry Park, in 
Moorhead, Clay County, on May 20th. The bird was was feeding at the 
edge of the thin strip of woods across from Fargo's Lindenwood Park 
close to the grassy central portion of the park.

A YELLOW RAIL was heard calling on St. Louis County 319 in the 
Sax-Zim Bog area on the 17th.

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen on May 20th in Austin, Mower County. 
It was in the backyard of the second house to the west of the 
intersection of 21st Street NE and 12th Avenue NE and is visible from 
the road. It has also been seen near the entrance to the Hormel 
Nature Center on 21st Street NE.

HOODED WARBLERS and CERULEAN WARBLERS have returned to 
Murphy-Hanrehan Park in Scott and Dakota counties. The Ceruleans are 
being heard between trail markers 1,2,3, and 4, while a Hooded 
Warbler was seen between markers 3 and 4, and two more were heard 
near marker 9. Also at marker 9 was an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER on the 
17th, and on the 18th a SPOTTED TOWHEE was seen between trail markers 
2 and 3. A second Spotted Towhee was in Rock County on the 17th. It 
was found along the dirt road the runs behind the gravel pit ponds 
just south of the Blue Mounds State Park Interpretive Center.

Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were at the Sleepy Eye sewage ponds in Brown 
County on the 17th, and thirty-two WHIMBREL were seen on the south 
side of Herding Island in Duluth on the 16th.

Interesting was the BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE reported on the 20th from the 
Bruce Vento Trail about half a mile east of the old Stroh's brewery 
in St. Paul, Ramsey County.

Other late migrants just being reported include CASPIAN TERN, WILLOW 
FLYCATCHER, WESTERN KINGBIRD, CANADA WARBLER, and CONNECTICUT WARBLER.

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 29th.

-- 
Anthony Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com