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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *January 18, 2001 *MNST0101.18 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: January 18, 2001
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://biosci.umn.edu/~mou/
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (ahertzel@uswest.net)
This is the Minnesota birding report for Thursday January 18th, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
There was an unscheduled update of this report last Saturday to report on a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH discovered in the Duluth harbor near the Cargill grain elevator. The bird was found by Chris and John Hockema as it fed on spilled barley at the base of the tallest part of the elevator with the large green-and-white Cargill sign on the side, and the bird was still present through Sunday afternoon. Note this is private property, but the Cargill superintendent gave birders permission to look for the bird only during weekends. Birders do NOT have permission to enter the Cargill property on weekdays. It is recommended birders park by the No Trespassing sign next to the railroad tracks, and walk the 200 yards up the road which leads to the elevator. The bird is often seen feeding on grain just to the right of this road in a small alcove of the building between two sets of doors with "danger" and "caution" signs. In the early afternoons a GYRFALCON is often seen perched atop this same Cargill elevator.
The KING EIDER and WESTERN GREBE were both still at Agate Bay in Two Harbors on the 15th. They were again close to the concrete pier at the southwest corner of the bay.
That PRAIRIE FALCON was found again on the 13th at the grain elevators in south Minneapolis, which are just east of Hiawatha Ave. between 34th and 38th Streets.
Jay Johnson found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL at Tamarac NWR in Becker County on the 13th. The bird was at the southeast corner of the refuge near the junction of Becker County Road 126 and township road number 6. Northern Hawk Owls are also being seen in Beltrami, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, St. Louis, and Lake counties.
A SNOWY OWL was found in Hennepin County by Manley Olson on the 16th. It was at the intersection of I-35W and Crosstown Blvd in Richfield.
On the 12th Drew Smith re-found the immature female LONG-TAILED DUCK on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River south of Prescott WI. Directions are as follows: From U.S. highway 61 go east on U.S. highway 10 into Prescott. After crossing the draw bridge, turn right and go south on highway 35. Proceed .7 miles to Monroe St, and turn right. Look for the signs for Freedom Park. This is on a high bluff overlooking the river. Check the edge of the ice that covers the backwater on the west side of the island.
John Krull of Todd County reported a VARIED THRUSH at a feeder in the town of Long Prairie. Please call John for further directions.
On January 13th an immature GOLDEN EAGLE was seen west of the Dorman Pools in the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Winona County.
And finally, HORNED LARKS have begun show up in some of the southern counties. Oscar Johnson found several of these early spring migrants in Brooklyn Park on the 17th.
Thanks to the many callers this week, especially Mark Alt, Jim Lind, Ken LaFond, and Chris Benson.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday January 25th. -- Anthony Hertzel The Minnesota Ornithologists' Union
Send your rare and unusual Minnesota sightings to our electronic hotline: MOU-net@biosci.umn.edu. To learn more, send a message (the message being these two words: info mou-net) to majordomo@biosci.umn.edu.