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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *October 31, 1996 *MNST9610.31 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: October 31, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (612) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (tony@mill2.MillComm.COM)
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)
This is the Minnesota birding report for Thursday October 31st sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. To skip this recording and leave a message you can press 5 on your touch tone phone.
That PYGMY NUTHATCH, which was first reported on last Saturday's unscheduled update of this tape, was seen as recently as October 28th. First identified in Fargo North Dakota, the bird has been seen sporadically on the Minnesota side of the Red River. To get to this location, drive south along U.S. highway 75 from the town of Moorhead. Turn right on 40th Ave south and follow this road as it becomes River Haven Road. Turn right onto River Oaks Point Drive into River Oaks Park. This road originally continued to the river but has recently been blocked off. Park at the fence and walk along the old road to the river. The nuthatch has been visiting a house across the river from here. Originally enticed to visit Minnesota by the use of tapes, a suet feeder has been placed near here to hopefully minimize the continued need for this. Persons wishing to see this bird in North Dakota are asked to visit only in the morning. Thanks to Bob O'Connor for originally reporting this bird.
In other birding news, on October 28th Bob Janssen estimated that there were as many as 50,000 AMERICAN COOTS on Lake Christina in Grant and Douglas counties and approximately 800 WESTERN GREBES on lake Osakis in Douglas County.
TUNDRA SWANS are gathering at the Weaver marshes just north of the Winona County line in Wabasha County. Large numbers of swans can be expected here throughout November. Seven TUNDRA SWANS and thirteen SNOW GEESE were at Borson's Slough in Lyon County, two and a half miles north of the town of Minneota on Lyon county road 3. Mark Johnson found several TUNDRA SWANS in Lake of the Woods County on the 26th, and Barb Kull reported them from Anoka County on the 27th.
A group of twenty SHARP-TAILED GROUSE was reported from along highway 72 in Lake of the Woods County, though no specific location was given.
On October 30-31 flocks of SANDHILL CRANES were seen migrating through Lyon County and they were seen in Wilkin County on the 28th.
Shorebirds still being reported include SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, PECTORAL and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SANDERLING, DUNLIN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, COMMON SNIPE and AMERICAN WOODCOCK.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL is still being seen on Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. Steve Dinsmore found an immature SABINE'S GULL at the east end of Fox Lake in Martin County. Fox Lake is just west of the town of Welcome and just north of Interstate 90. This is the 5th Sabine's Gull reported this fall. Also seen on the lake were several SNOW and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported from Isanti County on October 25th, and Michael Tarachow found one on the north shore of Black Dog Lake on the 26th. A possible LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was sighted in Maple Grove in Hennepin County on October 23rd.
Finally, Ray Glassel had a late BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER in his yard in Hennepin County on October 25th. Other migrants still being reported include ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, BONAPARTE'S, RING-BILLED and FRANKLIN'S GULLS, HORNED LARK, RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD and PURPLE FINCH.
Thanks to Oscar Johnson, Paul Budde, Mike Brakky and Mary McGrath for their reports.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday November 7th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name and phone number plus a brief but specific message which includes the name of the county where your sighting took place.