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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *November 9, 1995 *MNST9511.09 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: November 9, 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 November 9th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
As winter slowly makes its way into the state, several good sightings, typical of the season, have been called in. On November 7th several SNOW GEESE were reported in with the congregating CANADA GEESE on Silver Lake in Rochester. Other waterfowl are also building up on the still unfrozen lakes around the state. Interesting species reported include a BLACK SCOTER and a SURF SCOTER on South Center Lake in Chisago County near the town of Lindstrom on November 3rd, seen by Ray Glassel, and OLDSQUAW on Green Lake in Isanti County on the 4th, also seen by Ray. OLDSQUAW were also at Good Harbor Bay, Cook County and Stoney Point, Lake County on the 4th, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were at Grand Marais and Tofte, both in Cook County.
Terry Brashear reports a GOLDEN EAGLE near Lake Pepin on November 4th. GOLDEN EAGLES were also reported from Duluth, Lake City and from northwestern Otter Tail County.
A SANDERLING was in Grand Marais from November 4th through the 8th. Initially, this bird had been erroneously identified as a Snowy Plover. A COMMON SNIPE was seen on November 5th at the Lutsen sewage ponds. AMERICAN WOODCOCK were apparently still found in numbers on the 2nd.
There are two reports of GLAUCOUS GULLS. One was a bird found in Grand Marais on the 4th, and another is an immature bird seen on Lake Calhoun by several birders since the 7th. Up to three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS are still being seen around the lakes in Minneapolis and Black Dog Lake in Burnsville. Two of these are third winter birds, and the third is a fourth winter bird. Also at these lakes are up to six THAYER'S GULLS, most of these being adults. A LITTLE GULL made a brief appearance at Mill Lacs on the 4th. The bird was just west of the town of Malmo in the early afternoon but has not been seen since.
A single LONG-EARED OWL was discovered in a private stand of trees in Eagan, Dakota County by Steve Deger on the 6th. The land is owned by the Minnesota Waste Control Commission, and permission to enter must be obtained from the maintenance facility there. LONG- EARED OWLS have also been reported from Duluth. I have a secondhand report of a SNOWY OWL in Minnetonka near 494 and Minnetonka Blvd. The bird was present late in October. This is not only an unusually early date but also an unusual location and it is certainly possible that this may have been another species.
A pair of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS has been seen for several days at Lake Rebecca city park in Hastings. First discovered on the 6th by Jim Burt, the best suggestion for finding these birds is to check the picnic area west of the parking lot. Shelly Steva has had a VARIED THRUSH visiting her feeder in Thief River Falls since the 3rd, and another VARIED THRUSH briefly came into a feeder in the town of Lake Elmo, but it has not been seen since the 6th. On the 3rd, a VARIED THRUSH visited a feeder in St. Steven, but it too has apparently moved on.
Warblers lingering around the state include a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at Lake Calhoun on November 4th, a CAPE MAY WARBLER on the 3rd at the town of Holdingford in Stearns County, seen by David Kerzog, and a partial albino CAPE MAY WARBLER was in Minneapolis on the 5th.
Dave Palmquist observed several EVENING GROSBEAKS at Whitewater State Park on November 8th.
Many thanks to all the callers with their concise and timely reports.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, November 16th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, phone number and a brief but specific message.
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