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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *June 3, 1997 *MNST9706.03 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: June 3, 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 June 5th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. As always, to skip this recording and leave a message you can press 5 on your touch tone phone. For information on joining our state wide bird organization write the M.O.U. at 10 Church Street SE, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN, 55455.
A BLACK RAIL is being heard on the western edge of Agassiz NWR in Marshall County. The rail has been heard since Monday evening along Marshall County Road 7 just outside the refuge and about two miles east of County Road 12. As you cross the Thief River bridge on County Road 7 heading east towards the refuge, look for the tree line to give way to a marshy area. This is private land but the rail can be easily heard from the road. Please use common sense here, and do not leave the road. Tapes of the rail's call are unnecessary and are also discouraged.
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER has been seen in Sherburne County since June 4th. On the eastern edge of the town of Elk River go east from U.S. 169 on 165th Ave. for about half a mile. The bird has been seen on the small fence that runs east west on the south side of the road. If the bird is not here it has also been seen along the power lines that run along the railroad tracks about a hundred yards east of here.
From Thursday May 29th through at least Monday June 2nd several RED- THROATED LOONS were seen at various locations on Lake Superior in Duluth. These birds have been moving around quite a bit and various numbers have been observed on the lake from near Canal Park, from the 31st street access to Park Point, from the bus turn around toward the beginning of the recreation area on Park Point and from the beach near the airport near the end of the point. Some of these Red-throated Loons have also been observed at the very end of the point near the Superior Wisconsin port entry.
Kim Eckert reported finding a subadult ARCTIC TERN near the airport on Park Point in Duluth late in the afternoon of May 29th and this same bird may have still been in the area on Saturday May 31st, but it has not been reported since then. However, on June 2nd Peder Svingen reported an adult summer plumaged ARCTIC TERN from the 40th Ave. West area of west Duluth and this bird was observed again this afternoon. There are many gulls and COMMON TERNS in the area as well, and the Arctic Tern seems to be loosely associating with a group of Commons. If it is not found at the 40th Ave. West location it may be worth checking Lake Superior from the various accesses to Park Point where these birds often go to feed during the day.
And on Saturday May 31st a team of birders participating in the 11th annual Hawk Ridge Bird-a-thon discovered a migrant BURROWING OWL on the far side of the 40th Ave West impoundment in Duluth. Though the bird lingered all day and was seen by many people, it apparently has left the area as it has not been seen since the initial day of discovery.
In other birding news, a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was found by Doug Johnson on June 2nd in NW Hubbard County. The bird was seen about a mile south of Manomin Lake.
Walter Popp reports finding two HUDSONIAN GODWITS, several DUNLINS, and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER in Dakota County. On May 30th he found these shorebirds plus a few SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS on the road to Lock and Dam number 2 in the town of Hastings. On May 31st a RED- NECKED PHALAROPE was seen briefly by several observers at the 40th Ave. West impoundment in Duluth.
A BELL'S VIREO was seen and heard on June 2nd by Ken LaFond at the Chain of Lakes Park in Centerville, Anoka County. Check along the stream that runs west from Lake Centerville.
The seventh YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER reported this Spring was found by Steve Kerrigan at Lake Vadnis in Ramsey County near Rice Street and Interstate 694. On June 3rd the bird was found about 50 yards in along the trail that goes west through the woods from the first parking lot. A KENTUCKY WARBLER was heard calling on May 31st by Oscar Johnson from Elm Creek Park in Brooklyn Park in Hennepin County along the Oxbow Loop Trail. Two PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were at Frontenac State Park in Goodhue County on May 30th, at the end of the trail leading to Sand Point. A singing CERULEAN WARBLER was seen briefly at the Bass Ponds area in south Minneapolis on May 31st. Ceruleans are also being reported from several location from within Murphy Hanrehan Park in Scott County. ORCHARD ORIOLES are also being seen at the park.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday June 12th. If you have birds to report, please leave your name and phone number plus a brief but specific message which includes the name of the county where your sighting took place.