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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *December 14, 1995 *MNST9512.14 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: December 14, 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 14th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE is still being seen daily at the Blue Lake sewage treatment plant just east of Shakopee. First discovered on December 2nd and seen as recently as the 14th, the bird has been found in the main pond there. Thirteen other species of waterfowl are also being seen at the complex.
The GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, first seen on October 18th, was last reported on December 7th at Black Dog Lake in Dakota County. Much of the lake is now frozen, causing most of the two thousand or so Herring and other gulls to depart, and apparently this bird has left as well.
It is proving to be an interesting winter for owls in Minnesota. A GREAT GRAY OWL, found by Jim Rataczak, was along state Highway 200 in Aitkin County, just east of mile marker 183 on December 11th.
A NORTHERN HAWK OWL was seen four miles west of the town of Cotton on County Road 52 in the Sax Zim bog area of St. Louis County. Also on the 7th in the bog a second HAWK OWL was found one half mile north of County Road 133 along County Road 7.
On December 7th, four SNOWY OWLS were discovered from widely scattered areas in southern Minnesota. One SNOWY OWL was found three miles south of the town of Lake City on Wabasha County Road 4. Another SNOWY OWL was seen in the town of Monticello in Wright County, perched on top of the McDonald's restaurant arches. And two miles east of Foxhome near the Wilkin / Otter Tail county line on Minnesota Highway 210, a SNOWY OWL was found by Anna Pidgeon. Tom Bell found a SNOWY OWL just south of the town of Hastings on Minnesota Highway 316. The SNOWY OWL that has been seen periodically at the Minneapolis -St. Paul airport was reported as recently as December 13th. Check the ball fields at the end of 66th street.
Other birds of note include BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Holdingford, Stearns County, on December 10th. A VARIED THRUSH visiting a feeder in Maplewood, Ramsey County since December 11th. And SNOW BUNTINGS and LAPLAND LONGSPURS from several localities, including flocks south of the town of McGregor on state highway 65 in Aitkin County. SNOW BUNTINGS were seen just south of Hastings on highway 316 in Dakota County, at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, and near the town of Welch in Goodhue County, about a half mile south of highway 61.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday December 21st. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, phone number and a brief but specific message.