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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *December 28, 1995 *MNST9512.28 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: December 28, 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 28th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Owls continue to be the most interesting birding news of the past week. A BARRED OWL has been seen periodically at Wirth Park. Check near the feeder along the trails at the Eloise Butler Sanctuary. Another BARRED OWL has been visiting Jim Williams yard since the 23rd.
BOREAL OWLS are being seen in a few locations in the northern parts of the state. As many as five birds have been reported from near the Cascade River Lodge in Cook County. On December 22, Sue Levi reported a BOREAL OWL at 16th Ave east and 2nd Street in Duluth. A BOREAL OWL was found dead in a yard along Wallace Ave and 5th Street, also in Duluth.
A GREAT GRAY OWL was along the Old North Shore Drive on Dec 15th, just southwest of Stoney Point, and there are still as many as ten individuals being seen in the Sax Zim Bog area of St. Louis County -- check especially county road 133. Another GREAT GRAY OWL was seen on December 25th, one mile up Midway Road from Interstate 35.
NORTHERN HAWK OWLS are also being reported in good numbers. Several birds are apparently wintering in the Sax and Zim Bog -- check especially along both county roads 7 and 52. Another HAWK OWL has been reported since December 23rd along Haines Road near the Kohl's department store. Interesting is the NORTHERN HAWK OWL found by Greg Pluth in Pine County on the 26th. The bird was seen along state highway 23 about two miles southwest of Brook Park.
And SNOWY OWLS are still in the harbor in Duluth and at the Mpls / St. Paul airport near the end of 66th street. A SNOWY OWL was also seen along Renville County Road 4, about four miles east of the Minnesota River.
EASTERN SCREECH OWLS can be found in St. Paul along the Mississippi River. Check the trees just north of the junction of Summit Ave. and the Mississippi River Drive, or you can look near Hidden Falls area below the Ford plant.
Craig Menze found a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in Otter Tail County on the 22nd. The bird was in the eastern part of the town of New York Mills, which is on U.S. Highway 10. An immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK has been at the Old Cedar Ave Bridge since November 12th. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER is also present there.
Steve Carlson found a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER in Aitkin County on the 24th. The bird was along Aitkin County Road 18 along the trail that runs south from Pietz's Road. This is about three miles west of County Road 5. BOREAL CHICKADEES and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were also in the area.
A HOARY REDPOLL was recorded on the Cottonwood CBC on Dec 16th, though no specific location was given. Possibly two HOARY REDPOLLS were visiting a feeder in Minneapolis, but again, no specific details were given.
Other birds of note include that GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, still at Black Dog Lake in Dakota County as of the 25th. A PEREGRINE FALCON was at Black Dog on the 24th and a PRAIRIE FALCON was at the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport on the 25th. The RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH irruption continues throughout the state. Many callers have reported higher than usual numbers at their feeders. Paul Egeland, who compiled the Christmas Bird Counts for Cottonwood, Lamberton, Marshall and Lac Qui Parle reports that their total RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH count is higher than all previous years combined. Tom Bell reports a WINTER WREN near his home in St. Paul Park. AMERICAN ROBINS can be found at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The Arboretum is on state highway 5 just west of Chanhassen. Flocks of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were still at Carlos Avery on the 21st.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday January 4th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, phone number and a brief but specific message.