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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *October 12, 1995 *MNST9510.12 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: October 12, 1995
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, October 12th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
Though virtually none of the unusual species reported on last week's tape is still being seen, other species have moved in to keep things interesting. Species recently reported but now apparently gone include a Sabine's Gull in Duluth, a Boreal Chickadee in Cottage Grove, a Northern Wheatear in Duluth, and a Black-throated Blue Warbler in south Minneapolis.
At least one and possibly two PACIFIC LOONS were near Stoney Point, just northeast of Duluth in St. Louis County. Check the lake about a mile and a half southwest of Stoney Point.
A RED-THROATED LOON was present for one day in Duluth, that being October 5th. The bird was seen just south of the jetty at Canal Park.
At Hawk Ridge in Duluth, the first ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK of the season was counted on October 5th. At the banding station nearby, over 130 owls were banded over the past weekend. For further information on birds at Hawk Ridge, Duluth and the North Shore, you can call the Duluth Rare Bird Report at 218-525-5952.
The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL is still at Black Dog Lake in Dakota County, and it has been joined by a first winter THAYER'S GULL. Both birds were seen as recently as October 11th. Other gulls there include RING-BILLED, HERRING, BONAPARTE'S, and FRANKLIN'S GULLS, plus a few CASPIAN TERNS.
Interesting is the HENSLOW'S SPARROW seen on October 11th by Shelly Steva. The bird was seen near the town of Red Lake Falls near the sewage ponds. This is rather unusual both for this area as well as the time of year. Other sparrows moving through the state include FOX, SONG, LE CONTE'S, WHITE-THROATED, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, plus DARK-EYED JUNCO and RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE.
The first SNOW BUNTINGS of the year were seen near Bemidji on October 6th by Marj Cahlander.
Finally, this note. Native Minnesota birder Phoebe Snetsinger has recently seen her 8,000th species worldwide. While on a trip to southern Mexico she saw a Rufous-necked Wood-Rail. As far as I know, she is the only person ever to reach the 8,000 species plateau.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday, October 19th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, phone number and a brief but specific message.