Previous reports: March 13 20 27 , April 3 10 17 24 , May 1 8 15 .
Other Hotlines: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore | Detroit Lakes

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Minnesota Statewide
*May 15, 2003
*MNST0305.15

-Birds mentioned

• CLARK'S GREBE
• Snowy Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Snow Goose
• Ross's Goose
• MISSISSIPPI KITE
• Yellow Rail
• Piping Plover
• Willet
• Ruddy Turnstone
• Sanderling
• Stilt Sandpiper
• Red-necked Phalarope
• LITTLE GULL
• MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD
• Northern Mockingbird
• Prothonotary Warbler
• Kentucky Warbler
• WESTERN TANAGER
• Henslow's Sparrow

Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: May 15, 2003
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, May 15th.

On May 10th, there was an adult MISSISSIPPI KITE at Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, Hennepin County. It was first seen soaring at treetop level along Oregon Avenue South, which is a short dirt road that branches off East Bush Lake Road near the south end of Bush Lake. The kite disappeared to the northeast but was soon relocated along Normandale Boulevard near the new St. Michaels Church. It soon floated out of sight to the northwest and has not been reported since.

I have a vague report of a MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD from May 15th. It was reported from Crosby Farm nature area in St. Paul, Ramsey County on the west side of Crosby Lake. This is all the information I have.

Shorebird numbers continue to increase. There were 19 species at Lake Byllesby in Dakota County on the 10th. Among them were PIPING PLOVER, WILLET, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SANDERLING, STILT SANDPIPER, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. A CLARK'S GREBE was reported here on the 11th. And a female WESTERN TANAGER was seen here on the 12th feeding in a Siberian Elm just passed the spot where the dirt road that goes west from the cemetery turns back over the hill. These trees are the ones closest to the road.

In Richfield, Hennepin County, a male Western Tanager was just inside the fence separating the Wood Lake Nature Center from the parking lot on the 11th. It's been seen daily since then and by today it was in the far southwestern corner of the park.

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was at the Hormel Nature Center in Austin Mower County on the 10th. Check near the entrance as well as in the yards of the homes to the west on 12th Ave NE.

A first year LITTLE GULL was reported at Goose Lake in southern Meeker County on the 10th. I have to wonder what a Little Gull would be doing in first-year plumage at this time of year. Also in Meeker County was a SNOWY EGRET near the town of Greenleaf. From state highway 22 go west on 180th Street for one mile.

At Lebanon Hills Park in Eagan, a KENTUCKY WARBLER was seen on May 14th. From Holland Lake parking lot at Cliff Road and Lexington Avenue in Eagan follow the trail from the pier west then south along the lake. Continue going south through the first trail junction to where the path continues down and back up into a clearing. When you reach the clearing turn left on the horse/ski trail and follow it to the first shelter. The warbler was seen in the trees near this shelter.

A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was among the 19 species of warblers seen at Eagle's Nest County Park in Watonwan County on the 15th.

On the 12th, a CATTLE EGRET was on the north side of Dakota County Road 66 between Donnelly Avenue and County Road 81. This is about a half mile west of U.S. Highway 52.

Six SNOW GEESE and a ROSS'S GOOSE were lingering at a WMA six miles south and two miles east of Dawson in Lac Qui Parle County on May 10th.

Several YELLOW RAILS were heard calling in the marshes of McGregor, Aitkin County on the 11th.

Finally, HENSLOW'S SPARROWS were in Frontenac State Park in Goodhue County on the 10th. Check the fields behind the Villa Maria Retreat Center. They were also reported from Meeker County near the boat landing to Minnesota Lake.

I'd like to thank the many callers who took the time to report their sightings. There simply isn't enough time to mention them all.

This state-wide birding report is brought to you and financially supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU). The MOU is Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club.

The report is composed from observations generously submitted by MOU members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this weekly update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message.

MOU members receive this report directly on MOU-net, the club's free e-mail listservice, which is available to anyone interested. For information contact David Cahlander at .

MOU members receive the organization's quarterly journal "The Loon" and the bimonthly magazine, "Minnesota Birding". For membership information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at moumembers@yahoo.com.

In cooperation with the Minnesota Office of Tourism, highlights of this hotline can be now heard at a toll free number which is available to callers outside the Twin Cities area. The number is 1-800-657-3700.

The MOU is pleased to offer this service. Thank you, and good birding.

The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, May 22nd.

-- Anthony Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com

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.

Return to Home Page