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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *January 11, 1996 *MNST9601.11 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: January 11, 1996
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 January 11th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. At any time you can bypass this recording to leave a message by pressing 5 on your touch tone phone.
Not surprising at this time of year, much of the most interesting birding news involves owls.
The possible GREAT GRAY OWL, reported last week from Wild River State Park in Chisago County was confirmed by several observers over the past week. Specific directions to the bird are available from park personnel. Betsy Beneke reports of another GREAT GRAY OWL, this one at the Tamarak National Wildlife refuge on January 9th. She saw the bird 1/4 mile west of the visitor center on county road 26. For more information you call the refuge at 218- 847-2641. Very interesting is the GREAT GRAY OWL seen by Gorden Anderson on January 8th at the Carlos Avery Refuge in Anoka County. The bird was about a mile north of county road 18 along the Old Game Farm Road. Though several birders have searched for this bird since its initial sighting, it has not been refound and apparently it has left the area. Diane Anderson has found a GREAT HORNED OWL of the Arctic race near Rochester in Olmsted County. On January 6th the bird was along county road 1, about 1/2 of a mile south of highway 52. A NORTHERN HAWK OWL is being seen with some regularity along highway 7 near the town of Sax. Check the treetops north of highway 52.
In other birding news, Jane Arnst saw several SHARP- TAILED GROUSE on county road 29 near county road 208 in the Sax/Zim bog on the 7th.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on January 3rd by Larry Demarest along the East River parkway in Minneapolis.
Also in Minneapolis a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen atop the Norwest Bank building in the downtown area. Another PEREGRINE was at Fort Snelling State Park on the 10th. And a COOPER'S HAWK was in the Brynmawr/Meadows neighborhood on the 7th.
A HERMIT THRUSH made an appearance at a bird bath in west St Paul. Marcy O'Conner saw the bird on January 10th; and Debbie Storms saw three AMERICAN ROBINS in Minnetonka, also on Jan 10th.
A SWAMP SPARROW is attempting to overwinter St. Louis Park. The bird has been seen by Mary Alice Krohnke since late November.
And finally, that adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE is still at the Blue Lake sewage ponds as of Jan 10th.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday January 18th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, phone number and a brief but specific message.