[mou] SW Minnesota HiLites

[psvingen@d.umn.edu]

Spring migration--it ain=92t over until the fat canary sings in the coal min=
e! Good=20
numbers of migrant passerines were found in SW Minnesota this week as shower=
s and=20
thunderstorms rolled through the region 5/24 and 5/25, e.g., 21 species of v=
ireos=20
and warblers at Blue Mounds S.P. in 40 minutes, similar numbers at Pipestone=
=20
National Monument, and overwhelming numbers of neotropical migrants at Hole-=
in-
the-Mountain County Park near Lake Benton, Lincoln County on the 24th. Notew=
orthy=20
sightings:
Gray Partridge--pair in Rock County and total of 8 birds in 3 locations, Lac=
 Qui=20
Parle County;
Horned Grebe--late migrant at Thielke Lake, Big Stone County 5/25;
Cattle Egret--one at Centennial WPA, Big Stone County 5/25;
Black-crowned Night-Heron--8 birds in marsh behind Hills WTP, Rock County 5/=
23;
shorebirds--1244 individuals (16 sp.) at ponds behind Gold =91N Plump plant =
in=20
Luverne, Rock County 5/23 including Willet, 11 Hudsonian Godwits, and one Re=
d-
necked Phalarope; shorebirds relatively scarce in Big Stone and Lac Qui Parl=
e=20
counties with potholes overflowing from recent rains, but 17 species still f=
ound=20
5/25 including one Hudsonian Godwit and one Red-necked Phalarope at Salt Lak=
e;
Eurasian Collared-Dove--4 birds at Heron Lake, Jackson County 5/23 with one =
pair=20
nest-building and defending territory near grain elevator;
Black-billed and Yellow-billed cuckoos at Hole-in-the-Mountain County Park 5=
/24;
Yellow-bellied and Alder flycatchers calling at several locations 5/24;
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--Rock, Pipestone, and Lincoln counties 5/24;
Philadephia Vireo--easily found in Rock, Pipestone, and Lincoln counties 5/2=
4=20
including no fewer than 15 at Hole-in-the-Mountain County Park;
Red-eyed Vireo--good migration including no fewer than 150 counted at Hole-i=
n-the-
Mountain County Park (one oak tree had 10 birds) 5/24;
Black-throated Blue Warbler--singing male at Hole-in-the-Mountain County Par=
k 5/
24;
Blue Grosbeak--singing at Blue Mounds S.P. interpretive center 5/24;
Dickcissel--singing in extreme SW Rock County 5/23;
Henslow=92s Sparrow--still singing at Plover Prairie, 2.0 miles E of US 75, =
Lac Qui=20
Parle County 5/24;
Black-headed Grosbeak--adult male cuckolded by a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak=
 who=20
chased off the Black-headed and copulated with a female Rose-breasted near B=
lue=20
Mounds S.P. 5/24--thanks to Anthony Hertzel for posting information about th=
is=20
sighting;
Great-tailed Grackle--male and 2 females at marsh behind Hills WTP, Rock Cou=
nty 5/
23.
--
Peder H. Svingen--psvingen@d.umn.edu--Duluth, MN