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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *March 14, 1996 *MNST9603.14 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: March 14, 1996
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 March 14th, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. At any time you can bypass this report to leave a message of your own by pressing 5 on any touch tone phone.
Right on schedule the first wave of Spring migrants hit the state over the last few days, and I have many reports of recent arrivals. I will list several of the more commonly reported birds at the end of this tape.
A Barrow's Goldeneye was seen at Black Dog Lake in Dakota County on Mar 9. This is certainly the same bird that had been over-wintering at the Blue Lake settling ponds.
I have a report of a very early TURKEY VULTURE from Mar 11. Andy Fine found the bird at the Louisville Swamp in Scott County. And what would be a record early OSPREY was reported by Gary Miller on Mar 7th flying over the LaFayette Bridge in Ramsey County. SANDHILL CRANES returned to Carlos Avery refuge in Anoka County on Mar 13.
GREAT GRAY OWL reports have diminished considerably since last week's tape. Still, several good reports have been called in. A GREAT GRAY was in Otter Tail County on Mar 10. Drive about ten miles north of Fergus Falls on county road 27 and about 1/2 mile past Long Lake look for the Lost Resort. The owl was just beyond here. A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen east of St. Anthony Blvd along Ridgeway Rd, in Hennepin County. Another GREAT GRAY has been seen in Isanti County for nearly a week at the junction of County Road 21 and 313th Street, about 6 miles west of North Branch.
Vada Rudolph re-found those two GREAT GRAYS near Coon Lake Regional Park, Mar 10. And she reported finding a third GREAT GRAY, this one in Coon Rapids, west of Sunset Ave, and south of Main St. From Mar 1 through Mar 9 a GREAT GRAY was seen in Todd County, 3 miles east of Long Prairie: go one mile north from highway 27 on County 29. Becky Landas found a GREAT GRAY OWL in Morrison County at the junction of County Road 28 and 2 just east of Motley.
There were three GREAT GRAY OWLS seen in Lino Lakes: one was north of the City Hall, one was just north of the junction of North Rondeau Lake Drive and East Rondeau Lake Drive, and the third was at Lake Drive and Crossways Lake Drive. A GREAT GRAY was on the south side of Becker County 110, one mile west of Maple Lag resort. And, Bob Zink reports that those two GREAT GRAYS still at highway 96 and Ideal on Mar 11, and at least one GREAT GRAY OWL was still at Wild River State Park on Mar 9.
A SNOWY OWL was 5 miles west of Calloway on Becker County 14 on Mar 9. And a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was seen at Highland Park on Mar 13 near the group campsite.
Don Wanshura reported a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE near Beron on Mar 11. Another LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen along Aqua Lane in Lino Lakes on Mar 12.
John Krall had a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD visit his yard in Long Prairie, Todd County on Mar 14th, and EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were at Carlos Avery on Mar 13.
Finally, recently reported Spring migrants include GREAT BLUE HERON, various species of waterfowl such as GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, plus AMERICAN COOT, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, MOURNING DOVE, AMERICAN ROBIN and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. We can expect additional reports of migrants such as KILLDEER, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, EASTERN BLUEBIRD and COMMON GRACKLE in the near future.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday March 21st. If you have birds to report, please leave your name, location, phone number and a brief but specific message.