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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *December 12, 1996 *MNST9612.12 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide/Twin Cities
Date: December 12, 1996
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (612) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (tony@mill2.MillComm.COM)
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)
This is the Minnesota birding report for Thursday December 12th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The possible SLATY-BACKED GULL, first reported on last Saturday's update of this tape, was seen by Mike Hendrickson on December 10th at the Superior WI landfill. The identification of this bird as a Slaty-backed Gull remains in serious doubt, but this tape will continue to update callers as to both its whereabouts as well as its eventual identification.
Seven GRAY PARTRIDGE were found by David Cahlander on December 6th along Fisher Ave. between 170th and 180 Street in the town of Vermilion in Dakota County.
A COOPER'S HAWK was seen by Chuck Mayer in St. Louis Park on December 8th. This was near the junction of state highway 100 and Excelsior Blvd. And Bill Stjern found a COOPER'S HAWK in Woodbury, Washington County also on Dec. 8th. Cooper's Hawks have been known to both nest and overwinter in these two areas for the past several years.
Peter Neubeck called to report that he was able to locate two GOLDEN EAGLES in Houston County on December 6th. Both birds were in view along Houston County Road 10, three miles east of county road 76.
Shelly Steva reported a GYRFALCON on Dec. 9th west of the Pennington County town of St. Hiliare along Polk County Road 21. The bird has not been reported since but may still be in the area.
Jay Walter found an amazing three SNOWY OWLS at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport on the 8th. The best location to view these birds is from the end of south 66th Street on the western side of the airport in Minneapolis. Look east across the fields towards the runways.
An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was reported by Jim Williams from 400 block of south Pascal Street in St. Paul, Ramsey County. The bird was heard calling on the evening of December 5th.
On December 7th, a SHORT-EARED OWL was seen by Rick Pertilly in a field near the town of Wilder in Jackson County. The location was near the intersection of state highway 60 and County Road 86.
And Doug Johnson found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on December 8th in Cass County. The owl was located two miles south of the Hubbard/Cass County line along state highway 64.
Interesting is the BROWN THRASHER which visited the Minnetonka feeder of Gerald Gurshone. He saw the bird on the 10th, but it apparently has not returned.
Also reported over the last week was a group of forty WILD TURKEYS in Houston County on the 6th, Red-tailed Hawks in Golden Valley on the 7th, two PEREGRINE FALCONS in downtown Minneapolis on the 10th, AMERICAN ROBINS in both Minnetonka and Minneapolis, CEDAR WAXWINGS at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, upwards of a thousand SNOW BUNTINGS in Polk County on December 9th, and several RED CROSSBILLS in Olmsted County on the 10th.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday December 19th.