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Other Hotlines: Minnesota Duluth/North Shore | Detroit Lakes

-RBA
*Minnesota
*Minnesota Statewide
*May 20, 2004
*MNST0405.20

-Birds mentioned

• Cattle Egret
• Piping Plover
• Black-necked Stilt
• Curlew Sandpiper
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• Northern Mockingbird
• Bell's Vireo
• Hooded Warbler
• Painted Bunting
• Lark Bunting

Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: May 20, 2004
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) http://biosci.umn.edu/~mou/
Reports: (763) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (ahertzel@sihope.com)

This is the Minnesota Birding Report for Thursday, May 20th.

A potential second state record CURLEW SANDPIPER was found near near Clinton, Big Stone County, on the 16th and it was still present the following day. From U.S. Highway 75, go west on Big Stone County Road 4 for four miles, then turn north on County Road 61 for 8/10ths of a mile. Park and walk to the east into the field with a track of wheel ruts, The wetland where the bird was found is just to the northeast after walking about 200 yards.

The three BLACK-NECKED STILTS found on the 16th at the Belle Plaine sewage ponds in Scott County were still present today. The ponds are along Scott County Road 6 about a mile west of town. Three more Black-necked Stilt were reported last week in Steele County, but I have no recent information on those birds. The location was along County Road 19, one half mile west of the entrance to Rice Lake State Park. Another Black-necked Stilt was found in Kandiyohi County on May 18th at the Gustavus Aldolphus research site. From state highway 7, go two miles west of the Lake Lillian turn off, then north on 129 for two miles. Turn west and drive about a mile and a half to the wetland on the south side of the road.

On May 19th, a male PAINTED BUNTING was at the feeders of Rich Pemble of Moorhead, Clay County. Rich lives at 2411 Rivershore Drive. Take I-94 to the U.S. Highway 75 exit, go north to the stop light at 24th Avenue South and turn left. At the end of 24th turn left and park. Rich asks birders to walk around the south side of the garage and watch either from the wooden deck or from the yard sloping toward the river.

Shawn Conrad reported a LARK BUNTING bear Nashwauk, St. Louis County, on the 16th. A possible Lark Bunting was reported on the 18th in Lyon County along state highway 68 about a mile and a half northwest of Marshall.

There were two CATTLE EGRETS at the Annandale sewage ponds in Wright County on the 15th. In Scott County, another Cattle Egret was reported on the 17th on the east side of County Road 18 just south of Crossings Boulevard.

On the 18th, a PIPING PLOVER was found in a wild rice paddy north of Aitkin in Aitkin County. From Aitkin, go north on U.S. Highway 169, the left on County Road 21. Take the first gravel road to the right and look for the first rice paddy on the south side of the road.

In Lynd, Lyon County, a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen on May 17th across from the post office.

A singing BELL'S VIREO was at McCarthy Lake in Wabasha County on the 15th. From U.S. Highway 61 take Wabasha County Road 84 to the entrance to McCarthy Lake WMA. Look for the thicket on the left before reaching the parking lot. Another Bell's Vireo was at Cliff Fen Park in Dakota County on the 19th. From the parking lot, hike east around the soccer fields then turn north, crossing the railroad tracks. Follow the path north to the second electric tower and listen.

Dedrick Benz found a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on the 21st at Blue Mounds State Park in Rock County. The bird was in the first Burr Oak on the Burr Oak Trail which starts at the interpertive center. Another Mockingbird was in Dory Spence's yard near Schroeder, Cook County, on the 20th.

On the 15th, a male HOODED WARBLER was found in Black's Grove Park west of the town of Wadena in east-central Otter Tail County. From the parking lot go past the picnic shelter and take the trail where the orange bridge crosses the creek. Follow this trail to a "T," then turn left. Walk about 100 yards to where the trail takes a sharp turn right and look in the nearby vegetation. And on the 18th Hooded Warbler was at the northeast corner of Medicine Lake in Hennepin County, near 34th Avenue north.

On the 16th, a Summer Tanager was at Lebanon Hills Park in Dakota County but I have no specific directions. On the 15th a Summer Tanager was at Murphy-Hanrehan Park in Scott County. Park along the road near marker 14 and hike east to marker 15. At the trail crossing, take the trail to the right. Hike about 100 yards past marker 15 to a low marshy area. A second Summer Tanager was also reported from the park on the 18th, halfway between main parking lot and marker 1 by the lake. And Dave Lothner saw a male Summer Tanager at Prairie Portage, Cook County, on the 15th.

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 27th.

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.

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