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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *December 7, 1995 *MNST9512.07 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: December 7, 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 December 7th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
An adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE is being seen daily at the Blue Lake sewage treatment plant just east of Shakopee. Discovered on December 2nd by Craig Mandel, the bird has been seen in the main pond at the western edge of the complex.
A possible female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was reported on December 2nd along the Mississippi River in St Paul, just east of Holman Field. However the details of yellow bill and rounded head, as described by other observers, does not eliminate Common Goldeneye as a possibility, and birders should be cautious before concluding that this is indeed a Barrow's.
On Friday, December 1st, Bruce Fall found eight species of gull at Black Dog Lake in Dakota County, including a first winter BLACK- LEGGED KITTIWAKE. Since then, the kittiwake has generally been seen coming in to roost on the east side of the power plant in the late afternoon.
Other gulls seen include an ICELAND GULL, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, four THAYER'S GULLS, three GLAUCOUS GULLS, many RING-BILLED GULLS and more than a thousand HERRING GULLS, plus the GLAUCOUS- WINGED GULL which has been reported sporadically since October 18th. This represents four Regular species of gull, three Casuals and an Accidental -- all in the same locality.
Another GLAUCOUS GULL was seen briefly near the Wabasha Winona county line on December 4th.
At least one LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL can also be found occasionally along the Mississippi River near Hardman Ave in St. Paul.
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were in Kittson County on Dec 1st, though no specific location was given. SHARP-TAILED GROUSE were also along township road 379 in Aitkin County.
A NORTHERN HAWK OWL was found by Dudley Edmundson near the intersection of Lake County roads 2 and 11 on December 2nd. Ken LaFond reports finding a NORTHERN HAWK OWL in Roseau County at mile marker 54 of Trunk Highway 11 on December 1st. On the same day he found a SNOWY OWL in Marshall County, just east of the town of Strandquest.
Warren Nelson found three species of owl in Aitkin County: a NORTHERN HAWK OWL seen on December 3rd, 12 miles north of the town of Aitkin on U.S. 196; a GREAT GRAY OWL 12 miles north of Palisade on County Road 10; and a SNOWY OWL just south of Palisade. Directions from Palisade are: take County road 5 three miles south to township road 380, go west one mile to township road 561, then north for 1 1/4 miles.
I have a second hand report of another SNOWY OWL being seen at the Minneapolis St. Paul airport near the end of 66th Street. And, on December 3rd a SNOWY OWL was picked up dead in Minneapolis near Cedar Ave. and interstate 494.
GRAY JAYS have now been reported as far south as Kanabec County. Craig Menze found two birds there on Dec 2nd at Lake Eleven near the Aitkin County line.
Finally, mixed Flocks of both WHITE-WINGED and RED CROSSBILLS were in Isanti County on December 2nd, about five northwest of Stacey on County Road 20. Evening and PINE GROSBEAKS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, PINE SISKINS and COMMON REDPOLLS at Craig Menze's feeder on Dec 3rd
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday December 14th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, phone number and a brief but specific message.