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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *October 26, 1995 *MNST9510.26 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: October 26, 1995
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (612) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (tony@mill2.MillComm.COM)
This is the Minnesota birding report for Thursday October 26th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Certainly the bird of the week continues to be the probable GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, first reported on last Saturday's unscheduled update of this tape. While the bird can still be seen along MN state highway 13, about a block west of Dakota County Road 5, birders have been having better luck finding it on Lake Calhoun in Hennepin County. It tends to come in late in the afternoon along with several hundred other gulls, and a good vantage point is along the western shore. This gull has appeared between 4 and 5 P.M. each day this week, with the only exceptions being Tuesday and Thursday.
Of note as well are the two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, also usually seen in the late afternoons on lake Calhoun, and occasionally at least one bird can be found at Black Dog Lake in Dakota County. In among these two rare gull species also look for HERRING, RING-BILLED, THAYER'S and BONAPARTE'S gulls.
Elsewhere, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been seen both at Park Point in Duluth and Good Harbor Bay near Grand Marais. OLDSQUAWS were near Five Mile Rock, Cook County.
TUNDRA SWANS showed up this week. Nine were seen on the north shore of Mille Lacs, in Aitkin County (Ray Glassel), and seven more were in Isanti County. Unusual is the WHOOPER SWAN being seen in Jorden, Scott County. Though most certainly an escaped bird, you can look for it near the junction of U.S. highway 61 and highway 21.
The PRAIRIE FALCON was still at the Minneapolis airport as late as October 26th. Check at the end of 66th street near the Richfield Garden.
Shorebirds still lingering around the state include LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a very late SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the Bass Ponds in Bloomington, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and COMMON SNIPE.
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS are moving southward through the state. One was in Amy Proffit's yard in Minneapolis on the 19th.
Ray Glassel found a very late BARN SWALLOW in Chisago County on the 25th. He also reports BONAPARTE'S GULL, and several AMERICAN PIPITS.
NORTHERN SHRIKES have reached the southern half of the state, being reported from Minneapolis, and Chisago and Isanti counties, as well as Knife River and Duluth. Thanks to Ken LaFond, Ray Glassel, Paul Budde and Cathy Clayton for their shrike reports.
The first VARIED THRUSH of the year showed up in Fairmont, Martin County on October 26th. The bird has been seen in the yard of Ed Brekke-Kramer.
On Saturday, October 21, Tony Hertzel refound that TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at the campground in Grand Marais which was first reported last week. He also found a second Solitaire in the same general area. On the same day, Paul Egeland found a third Solitaire along the Croftville Road just up the shore from Grand Marais, plus still another Solitaire in Knife River. For more information on these and other birds of the Duluth and North Shore area, you can call the Duluth birding report at 218-525-5952.
Lingering warblers found near Grand Marais over the weekend include NASHVILLE, YELLOW-RUMPED, TENNESSEE, ORANGE-CROWNED and PALM.
Finally, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are showing up in increasing numbers along the North Shore. Other winter birds now found in good numbers in a variety of locations around mostly the northern parts of the state include SNOW BUNTING, EVENING GROSBEAK, PINE GROSBEAK, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, and COMMON REDPOLL.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, November 2nd. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, phone number and a brief but specific message.