[mnbird] Re: [mou] Amazing Pelicans

[Jill Trescott]

I've lived in southern Dakota County for five years and this is the first
time I've seen pelicans here.  There's a flock of about two dozen that I've
seen around sunset, circling around the Cannon River, about three miles
upstream of Lake Byllesby.  There have also been 1 or 2 on the river in the
mornings.  Does anyone have a theory about why there seem to be so many
pelican reports this year?

Also, Steve Weston commented about seeing more kingfishers that usual.  I
saw three on Wednesday: one by the 280th street ditch at the turf farm at
280th and Hwy. 3 (southern Dakota County), and two in separate trees
overhanging the Cannon River.

Jill Trescott
Randolph


> [Original Message]
> From: eckma001 <eckma001@umn.edu>
> To: Kelly Larson <larson@redwing.net>; MOU-net <mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>; MN
Bird <mnbird@lists.mnbird.net>
> Date: 4/13/2004 11:24:08 AM
> Subject: [mnbird] Re: [mou] Amazing Pelicans
>
> On Sunday I saw a small flock of about thirty White Pelicans just to the
> south of Forest Lake.  One had a fish cross-ways in its bill.  They were
> flying low, right up and over I 35, toward the lake on the opposite side
of
> the road.  There is also an active Bald Eagle nest just east of I-35 a
mile
> or two north of the I-35 split.  It is visible from the freeway.  If you
> are in the Rush City area you can see hundreds of Common Mergansers on
> north end of East Rush Lake (around LaBelle Isle). 
> Karlyn Eckman
>
> On 12 Apr 2004, Kelly Larson wrote:
> > Easter Sunday trip excerpt, Dakota Cty
> >     I followed cty hwy 18 to Ravenna Trail (cty hwy 54) stopping
> > occasionally to scope more teal and a whole lot of Wood Ducks. I hit pay
> > dirt just SE of Hastings at Lake Isabelle. Three quarters of the visible
> > lake edge was packed with American White Pelicans. I pulled to the
> > shoulder and set up a scope. For about twenty minutes I watched. While
> > half of them were actively feeding on the south end, the rest were
> > either preening or sleeping on the north end. I tried to count. Getting
> > to a hundred I estimated the size of this group in relation to the whole
> > and came up with between 800-900 birds! Lots of people stopped to ask
> > questions and some got out to look through the scope. Everyone was
> > simple amazed! 10 Turkey Vultures circled over head and were the focus
> > of more questions from passers-by.
> > 
> > Kelly Larson
> > Feathered Friend Wild Bird Store
> > 3rd Annual Great River Birding Festival
> > 2nd Annual Great River Morel Festival
> > 2nd Annual Great River Eagle Spot Festival
> > Red Wing, MN
> > 651-267-1001
> > 
> > The 3rd Annual Great River Birding Festival Is Coming...
> > Hosted by Wabasha, MN on May 14-15-16 2004.
> > http://www.mississippi-river.org/birding/
> > 
> > Visit Our Website
> > http://www.thefeatheredfriend.com
> > 
> > 
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>
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