[mou] MOU RBA 29 May 2003

[Anthony X. Hertzel]

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 29th.

Unusual was the report of a pair of BLACK-NECKED STILTS seen May 25th 
along U.S. Highway 12 about a mile and a half west of Montrose in 
Wright County. The observer apparently was unaware of how unusual 
this record would be, and the report was not called in until two days 
later when the birds had already left the area.

A possible GLOSSY IBIS was reported from Bisson Lake at the north end 
of Hamden's Slough in Becker County on the 28th. I do not know if 
anyone has been able to verify if this was indeed a second state 
record Glossy, or the more expected White-faced Ibis.

A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen near the lakewalk in Two 
Harbors, Lake County on the 24th and again on the 26th.

A small invasion of NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS occurred along the North 
Shore of Lake Superior over the weekend. Individuals were seen at Two 
Harbors, Lake County on the 23rd at the west end of 1st Avenue near 
the edge of DM&IR property; at Grand Marais, Cook County on the 25th; 
also in Cook County at the campground near the Cross River at site 
number 1 on May 26th; and as many as three were at the Split Rock 
cabins in Lake County on the 26th.

A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen on the 28th at Grand Portage National 
Monument in Cook County, but it could not be relocated later that day.

Over 100 WHIMBRELS were at Good Harbor Bay in Cook County on the 
26th. Two RED KNOTS were at the Lewiston sewage ponds in Winona 
County on May 29th. They were in the near pond along with several 
DUNLIN, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. And a 
PIPING PLOVER and several SANDERLING were in Duluth on the 25th, 
along the lake side of Park Point about 150 yards north of the White 
Pines nature trail.

On the 29th, a GREAT GRAY OWL was seen in the Sax Zim Bog area along 
St. Louis County Road 52 just east of Owl Avenue.

A pair of KENTUCKY WARBLERS was found on the 25th at Lebanon Hills 
Park in Dakota County. From the parking lot 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 past the 
first trail junction then right at the next one. Follow the trail 
past the shelter until you find a spot where three lines have been 
scraped across the trail. The birds were seen in the trees on the 
left. This is the same area where a SUMMER TANAGER has been seen for 
the past two weeks. Two Kentucky Warblers were also reported from 
Williams Nature Center in Blue Earth County on the 26th. Williams 
Nature Center is on state highway 68, three quarters of a mile west 
of U.S. Highway 169.

A pair of WESTERN TANAGERS was reported on the 24th from Rock County. 
They were in Blue Mounds State Park along the main entry road, but I 
have no specific location.

Also of note are the exceptional numbers of BELLS' VIREOS being 
reported from across the southern half of the state with far to many 
observations to be detailed here.

Finally, many people have inquired about the recent Whooping Crane 
sighting from Carlos Avery Refuge in Anoka County. First, I'd like to 
mention that the MOU was not informed of bird's presence until after 
it was already gone. Second, the assertion that this constitutes a 
"record" is essentially incorrect. It is without a doubt an important 
observation, but since the bird is part of a release effort and comes 
from a flock not yet established in the wild, it does not constitute 
an official Minnesota record, nor would this be acceptable on any 
birder's list submitted to the MOU for publication. There are four 
acceptable records of Whooping Crane in Minnesota since 1900. They 
are:

	   23 Apr 1917, Badger, Roseau County (two adults)
	    7 Nov 1951, Rice Lake N.W.R, Aitkin County
	   11 Oct 1990, Gatzke, Marshall County
	21-28 Oct 1990, Burnham Creek W.M.A., Polk County, (treated
		as the same bird as the one in Marshall County)

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.

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The MOU is pleased to offer this service. Thank you, and good birding.

The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, June 5th.

-- 
Anthony Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com