Minnesota Statewide RBA
Minnesota Statewide RBA
Minnesota Statewide RBA
|
Previous reports: June
5
12
19
26
, July
3
10
17
24
31
, August
7
12
14
.
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore | Detroit Lakes
-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *August 21, 2003 *MNST0308.21 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: August 21, 2003
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://biosci.umn.edu/~mou/
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (ahertzel@sihope.com)
This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday August 21st.
As reported on last Tuesday's unscheduled update of this tape, on August 18, a possible SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was reported from Morristown in Rice County. The directions are vague, but about eight miles west of Faribault on the north side of state highway 60, there is a small parking lot for people using the Sakatah Hills trail. The bird was seen in this general vicinity earlier in the day, but it has not been relocated.
Both NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS were still present at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge on the 19th. Take U.S. Highway 75 south out of Ortonville. In about six miles, the road, which had been going east, will bend to the southeast. Take Big Stone County Road 21 to the west. After a short distance take the first left and park at the end of the road. The cormorants spend their time on the peninsula with about one hundred Double-crested Cormorants.
On the 15th, a CAROLINA WREN was heard singing near the home of Robert and Valerie Jessen in southwest Austin, Mower County.
In Todd County, as many as four CLARK'S GREBES were seen at Lake Osakis on the 19th. From the town of Osakis, go east on highway 27. After passing a pond on both sides of the road, take a left. The road follows the lake where the grebes were seen. A Clark's Grebe was also seen on the west side of Thielke Lake in Big Stone County on the 19th.
One adult and one immature LITTLE BLUE HERON were still in the northwest corner of Douglas County near the Grant County line. From County Roads 82 and 19, go south on County Road 19 to its intersection with Whisper Lane. Turn left on Whisper Lane and go 1/2 mile until you see a large sign for Bah Lake WPA. And about two miles north of Whisper Lane were as many as 78 CATTLE EGRETS on the 19th.
But again, shorebirds have made up the bulk of reports coming in this week. A WILLET was seen on the 19th at the southwest corner of highway 28 and Big Stone County Road 61.
The August 17th shorebird survey at Agassiz NWR in Marshall County produced a total of 2430 individuals of seventeen species. Highlights included the first WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER for the fall migration, plus one BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and four RED-NECKED PHALAROPES.
Four BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at the Castle Rock sod farms in Dakota County on the 20th. At the New Germany mud flats on Carver County Road 30, fourteen species of shorebirds were counted on the 21st, including at least one Red-necked Phalarope.
There were two Red-necked Phalaropes at the Kenyon sewage pond in Goodhue County on August 16th, and the following day two more were seen at the Belle Plaine ponds in Scott County.
Migrant warblers have been reported from many localities in central and southern Minnesota, including TENNESSEE WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. And I also have reports of migrant YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
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.
MOU members receive this report directly on MOU-net, the club's free
e-mail listservice, which is available to anyone interested. For
information contact David Cahlander at
MOU members receive the organization's quarterly journal "The Loon"
and the bimonthly magazine, "Minnesota Birding". For membership
information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at
moumembers@yahoo.com.
In cooperation with the Minnesota Office of Tourism, highlights of
this hotline can be now heard at a toll free number which is
available to callers outside the Twin Cities area. The number is
1-800-657-3700.
The MOU is pleased to offer this service. Thank you, and good birding.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, August 28th.
Send your rare and unusual Minnesota sightings to our electronic hotline:
MOU-net@biosci.umn.edu.
To learn more, send a message (the message being these two words:
info mou-net) to
majordomo@biosci.umn.edu.
Return to Home Page