[mou] Weekend Birds

JacobTee@aol.com JacobTee@aol.com
Mon, 14 Mar 2005 20:11:42 EST


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I birded central and northeast Minnesota this past weekend.  Here are some of 
the highlights of what I saw.

I birded Aitkin Co. and Sax-Zim on 3/12.  Searched several times for the 
BOREAL OWL on 210 just west of McGregor but struck out every time, possibly due to 
the presence of a GREAT GRAY OWL instead.  Drove over to Aitkin and hit CR1, 
Hwy 169, CR18, CR5, and the roads around Rice Lake NWR.  Found 22 GREAT GRAY 
OWLS, 7 NORTHERN HAWK OWLS, 3 NORTHERN SHRIKES, and 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS.  
Sax-Zim had 1 GREAT GRAY OWL, 10 NORTHERN HAWK OWLS (7 between Stone Lake Rd and 
Arkola on CR7), 3 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE (Owl Ave), 2 GRAY JAYS, and 1 PILEATED 
WOODPECKER.

I birded Highways 2 and 1 in Lake Co. on 3/13, mainly looking for SPRUCE 
GROUSE.  Found a pair of them in the road just after the Sand River on Hwy 2 then 
rounded a curve near MM302 on Hwy 1 and found a spectacular male strutting in 
the road.  I stopped and he flew over and almost landed on my truck!  He 
proceeded to strut his stuff then I noticed there were 8 more grouse in the tree 
next to my truck.  It was quite a sight.  Also saw RED CROSSBILLS along Hwy 2 
and GRAY JAYS & a PILEATED WOODPECKER along Spruce Rd.  At the feeders at the 
cafe in Isabella there were around 100 COMMON REDPOLLS (no Hoary though).

I also stopped by Two Harbors on 3/13 to search for the HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 
found one male along the breakwall.

On 3/14 I stopped by Forest Lake and saw the NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL that John 
Wallner has been hosting for a while now.  Thanks John!

Also this morning I searched all over for the GYRFALCON in Dakota Co.  but 
couldn't find it or any groups of waterfowl.

Good birding...

Jay Gilliam
Norwalk, IA

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<DIV>I birded central and northeast Minnesota this past weekend.&nbsp; Here=20=
are some of the highlights of what I saw.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I birded Aitkin Co. and Sax-Zim on 3/12.&nbsp; Searched several times f=
or the BOREAL OWL on 210 just west of McGregor but struck out every time, po=
ssibly due to the presence of a GREAT GRAY OWL instead.&nbsp; Drove over to=20=
Aitkin and hit CR1, Hwy 169, CR18, CR5, and the roads around Rice Lake NWR.&=
nbsp; Found 22 GREAT GRAY OWLS, 7 NORTHERN HAWK OWLS, 3 NORTHERN SHRIKES, an=
d 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS.&nbsp; Sax-Zim had 1 GREAT GRAY OWL, 10 NORTHERN HAWK=
 OWLS (7 between Stone Lake Rd and Arkola on CR7), 3 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE (Ow=
l Ave), 2 GRAY JAYS, and 1 PILEATED WOODPECKER.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I birded Highways 2 and 1 in Lake Co. on 3/13, mainly looking for SPRUC=
E GROUSE.&nbsp; Found a pair of them in the road just after the Sand River o=
n Hwy 2 then rounded a curve near MM302 on Hwy&nbsp;1 and found a spectacula=
r male strutting in the road.&nbsp; I stopped and he flew over and almost la=
nded on my truck!&nbsp; He proceeded to strut his stuff then I noticed there=
 were 8 more grouse in the tree next to my truck.&nbsp; It was quite a sight=
.&nbsp; Also saw RED CROSSBILLS along Hwy 2 and GRAY JAYS &amp; a PILEATED W=
OODPECKER along Spruce Rd.&nbsp; At the feeders at the cafe in Isabella ther=
e were around 100 COMMON REDPOLLS (no Hoary though).</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I also stopped by Two Harbors on 3/13 to search for the HARLEQUIN DUCKS=
 and found one male along the breakwall.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>On 3/14 I stopped by Forest Lake and saw the NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL that=
 John Wallner has been hosting for a while now.&nbsp; Thanks John!</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Also this morning I searched all over for the GYRFALCON in Dakota Co.&n=
bsp; but couldn't find it or any groups of waterfowl.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Good birding...</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Jay Gilliam</DIV>
<DIV>Norwalk, IA</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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