[mou] Western and Northwestern Minnesota

[Dennis/Barbara Martin]

Spent the last 4 days birding various areas of western and northwestern
Minnesota.  Most unusual birds were as follows:

Black Scoter-Thief River Falls sewage ponds on the AM of the 14th

Merlin-apparent nesting bird in the Oak Grove cemetery next to Red Lake
Falls (Red lake County), no nest found but bird was harassing us and calling
for us to leave,  typical Taiga race, noon on the 14th

Rough-legged Hawk-for us very unusual for May but for others maybe not, one
in East Park WMA in Marshall County and one about 6 miles north of this same
area in Kittson County, early PM on the 13th

Short-eared Owl-Marshall County, corner of County Road 114 (Pembina Trail)
and County Road 6, unusual because came out before 7:00 PM and landed on a
fence post next to the parked car and there was enough light to get
excellent photos

Dennis and Barbara Martin
dbmartin@skypoint.com