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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *April 25, 1996 *MNST9604.25 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: April 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 April 25th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
AMERICAN AVOCETS were in Carver County. 2 3/4 miles west of the town of Mayer along county road 30. In addition to the avocets, 200 LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS were in the area, along with PECTORAL and LEAST SANDPIPERS.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was found in Inver Grove Heights, Dakota County on the 22nd. The directions given stated only that the bird was just south of state highway 55. Elsewhere in Dakota County, Wilson's Phalaropes were south of Hastings on the Vermillion River, and WILD TURKEYS were in Eagan on the 18th in a yard along Skyline Path.
Both HUDSONIAN and MARBLED GODWITS were in Big Stone County just north of the town of Correll, and MARBLED GODWITS were in good numbers elsewhere in Big Stone County as well.
Moving on to Hennepin County, Steve Carlson found a ROSS' GOOSE just north of the junction of County road 144 along county road 13. On April 25th the bird was found in a farm pond just west of Laura Lake. Steve also reports a WILLET was on the north beach of Wirth Lake at Theodore Wirth Park on the 24th. Oscar Johnson reports that HORNED GREBES were on both French and Diamond lakes on the 22nd, WESTERN GREBES had returned to Diamond Lake on the 21st, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was present on Diamond Lake on the 22nd. A BROWN THRASHER was at Robert's Bird Sanctuary on the 20th and again on the 21st and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were at the Old Cedar Ave Bridge on the 25th.
In Chisago County, personnel at Wild River State Park reported recently that a GREAT GRAY OWL was still present there, as it has been all winter, as recently as the 9th. Check in at the park headquarters for the most recent information. Near Stacy in Chisago County that CINNAMON TEAL was still present as recently as April 23rd. Look for the bird at Sunrise Lake, 6/10ths of a mile east of Stacy along county road 19.
A CATTLE EGRET was in northwestern Meeker County on the 20th, along highway 4 near the Crow River.
Six nesting SANDHILL CRANES were found in the Kellog/Weaver Sand Dunes area of Wabasha County.
In Olmsted County, Diane Anderson found a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at Rice Lake State Park near the campground on the north side of the road. She also found two AMERICAN AVOCETS at Silver Lake on the 21st.
And a WILLET was in Wright County on the 25th, on the west side of Fallon Ave 1/2 mile south of Monticello.
Other birds being reported around the state include, RED-NECKED GREBE, unusually large concentrations of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and DOUBLE- CRESTED CORMORANTS, plus GREEN HERON, BONAPARTE'S GULLS, SANDHILL CRANE, VIRGINIA RAIL, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, COMMON SNIPE, BANK and CLIFF SWALLOW, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.
Finally, though not in Minnesota, I have a report of a possible pair of GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES building a nest on the South Dakota side of Salt Lake. Birders this weekend should be looking out for what might be a third state record.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday May 2nd. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, location, phone number and a specific message.