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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *January 9, 1997 *MNST9701.09 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: January 9, 1997
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 January 9th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. As always, to skip this recording press 5 on your touch tone phone.
A large variety of waterfowl is being seen at the Blue Lake settling ponds near Shakopee in Scott County. GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, MALLARD, GADWALL, REDHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD and HOODED MERGANSER were all reported this week. The Barrow's Goldeneye which had been seen as well has not been reported since the 1st.
A COMMON SNIPE was seen Jan 7th at the Nicols fen in Eagan in Dakota County. Nicols fen is just south of the railroad tracks near the eastern end of Black Dog Road.
Ray Glassel found a SNOWY OWL at 180th street and Emery in Dakota County on Jan 7th. Another SNOWY OWL, reported by Ken LaFond, was in western Kittson County along highway 175 on Jan 6th. Ken also found a GREAT GRAY OWL and a NORTHERN HAWK OWL in Roseau County about nine miles north of the town of Roseau. That NORTHERN HAWK OWL can still be found in Anoka County, though it is moving about quite a bit. As recently as Jan 8th it was seen along Cloverleaf Parkway between 97th Ave and 99th Ave. On Dec 31st, Mark Johnson reported three NORTHERN HAWK OWLS five miles northeast of Baudette in Lake of the Woods County. And Barb McGregor found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL, a GREAT GRAY OWL and a few WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on St. Louis County Road 7 just south of Zim on Jan 1st.
Two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE'S were found along Wabasha County Road 26, three-tenths of a mile west of state highway 74 on Jan 4th. A third Solitaire was found south of here in Winona County on Jan 7, nine tenths of a mile south of the DNR building in the Whitewater W.M.A. And another Solitaire was seen briefly along Grayslon Road in east Duluth last week. For more information on this and other birds in the Duluth area, you can call the Duluth birding report at 218-525-5952.
Al Batt reported that a VARIED THRUSH is still visiting a feeder in the town of Hayward, Freeborn County as it has since been since Dec. 14. Forest Strnad reported a BROWN THRASHER south of the town of Northfield in Rice County on Demontraville Road east of highway 3.
In other birding news, an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT can be seen on the west side of Black Dog Lake in Dakota County. These birds have been present for several months; the Greater White-fronted Goose reported last week from Anoka County is, in fact, a typical domestic barnyard goose; five RING-BILLED GULLS on Albert Lea Lake in Freeborn County; WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were seen in Washington, Freeborn and Hennepin Counties; a HARRIS' SPARROW was seen in section 15 of Bancroft township in Freeborn County, north of County Road 22 just off County Road 25; Snow Buntings were reported from Polk County; and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were at feeders in Anoka and Washington counties.
I received many reports in response to last week's comments on the current status of winter birds. Most seemed to agree that, generally, the numbers of birds being seen is down somewhat from other years. The expected winter finches, such as Pine Siskin and Purple Finch, are easily found -- sometimes in surprising numbers -- in the northern counties, while they are nearly non-existent to the south. Common Redpolls are anything but common, and Cedar Waxwing and American Goldfinch numbers are also down across the state. Red-breasted Nuthatches are not as abundant as last year when they invaded across the state, and their numbers seem to be a bit more typical. Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal and American Tree Sparrow are apparently being seen in above normal numbers. Interestingly, many callers reported that woodpecker numbers appeared lower than normal, while others judged them to be higher.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday January 16th.