Return to Home Page
-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *January 25, 1996 *MNST9601.25 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: January 25, 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 25th 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.
Forest Strnad has seen two MUTE SWANS along the Cannon/Wells Lakes bridge on Rice county road 12, 1/2 mile from highway 60. He has also seen an unusual duck here which, judging from the description, sounds much like a EURASIAN WIGEON. Forest would appreciate a call from anyone seeing this bird.
One and possibly two GYRFALCONS have been seen in the Duluth harbor. These birds can be difficult to find, but mid afternoon is probably the best time to look. For more information on these and other birds in the northeastern part of the state, you can call 218-525-5952.
50 adult BALD EAGLES can still be seen at Reads Landing in Wabasha County. At Colville Park there are more than 30. There are probably over 100 BALD EAGLES wintering in Wabasha County alone along the Mississippi River.
SNOWY OWLS are easier to find in the southern half of the state than the north. One bird have was reported from Goodhue County along highway 57 near Wanamingo. Another was near the Kasson Mantorville high school in Dodge County. And in Steele County a bird was located just north of Rice Lake State Park. Thanks to Diane Anderson for these reports. Another SNOWY OWL was reported on January 21st from Wilkin County at the junction of county roads 52 and 78.
Most interesting is the GRAY JAY which made a brief appearance in Fillmore County. The bird was seen by naturalists at the Forestville State Park on January 23rd.
Several TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES have been discovered in the state. On January 19th, Fred Lesher and Jeff Dankert discovered a solitaire in Houston County near the town of Yucatan. The bird was in a grove of cedars along county road 4, 7.8 miles west of highway 76. Bob Janssen later reported that there are actually two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES here. And two more TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were seen .3 miles north of the town of Elba in Winona County.
Marcy O'Conner has a HERMIT THRUSH at her feeder in west St. Paul, and a few AMERICAN ROBINS are still at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. As many as twelve ROBINS are visiting Peg Zemke's bird bath in Afton, Washington County.
A RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE is visiting a feeder in Roseville and another Towhee is being seen in the DesNoyer neighborhood of St. Paul. This bird was described as being a female, probably of the western Spotted race.
HORNED LARKS and SNOW BUNTINGS can be found in Carver and McLeod counties, and COMMON REDPOLLS are still being reported in greater than usual numbers from several Minnesota feeders.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen north of the town of Wilmar, near the technical college campus and in Isanti County at the junction of county roads 47 and 18. Ken LaFond found a flock of RED CROSSBILLS at Carlos avery Refuge in Anoka County on the 20th. Check the bog just north of the cemetery.
Finally, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is requesting information anyone may have concerning the mortality of birds or other animals due to the recent ice storm. You can call Joan Galley at 297-2277.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday February 1st. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, location, phone number and a brief but specific message.
------------------------------------------------
Note: The unusual duck reported at the beginning of theis message is a probable hybrid Mallard/Gadwall. --Tony Hertzel