Minnesota Statewide RBA
Minnesota Statewide RBA
Minnesota Statewide RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Minnesota Statewide *May 5, 1999 *MNST9905.05 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota Statewide
Date: May 5, 1999
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (612) 780-8890
Compiler: Anthony Hertzel
Transcriber: Anthony Hertzel (tony@millcomm.com)
Re-transcriber: David Cahlander (dac@skypoint.com)
This is the Minnesota birding report for Wednesday May 5th sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
This tape is being updated a day early because of the recent influx of spring migrants and to report on a few species of particular interest. Because of the substantial number of reports coming in this past week I can only mention the more unusual species.
Most interesting was the report of two ibis in Dakota County on May 5. The location was near the town of Castle Rock, about one mile west of the junction of state highway 3 and county road 86. Though the birds were identified as Glossy Ibis, positive identification has not yet been fully determined.
A SNOWY EGRET was found by Ken Lafond at Carlos Avery Refuge in Anoka County on the 2nd. The bird was at pools number 6 and 26. To get to this location drive west from the Wyoming exit off Interstate 35. In one half mile turn left and drive one and one half miles. Turn left again and drive about one mile. The egret was seen with a few GREAT EGRETS.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was reported on May 3rd about 4.5 miles east of Hitterdal in Clay County, but the date seems to be at least a week ago.
On May 4, Jim Fitzpatrick observed a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD near the east side of the administration building at Carpenter Nature Center. Carpenter Nature Center is near the St. Croix River along Washington County Road 21 about two miles north of U.S. Highway 10. All birders are requested to sign in at the Visitor Center.
At least three YELLOW RAILS were reported by Ron Erpelding on April 27th at the Nature Conservancy area in NE Kandiyohi County. To get to this location, go one mile east of the town of Regal on state highway 55. Take the first right onto the gravel road. Drive about one and a half miles south to the large wooden sign on your right that identifies the area as the Regal meadow. The rails were heard about 80 yards north of this sign.
A BELL'S VIREO was seen at Lake Louise State Park near the town of Le Roy in Mower County, but no location was given.
At Lake Byllesby in Dakota County Karol Gressor reported a PRAIRIE WARBLER on May 2nd which was seen from the western edge of Lakeside Cemetery, which is on the northwest shore of the lake. The bird was not refound the following day. Eleven WILLETS were seen on the lakeshore earlier in the week, along with several other species of shorebirds. A possible YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was reported on the 1st from Grass Lake in Shoreview, Ramsey County. And an early BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen May 2nd by Debbie Storms in her yard in Minnetonka, Hennepin County.
SUMMER TANAGERS have been reported in record numbers. One was seen in Jackson County on the 1st about 1/2 mile north of where the Des Moines River crosses Jackson County Road 19. A second Summer Tanager was at the Bass Ponds area of Hennepin County on the 5th. This bird has been seen along the path that separates the eastern two ponds, and also along the hillside east of the shelter. A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER is also being seen in the area. Another Summer Tanager was seen briefly in the town of Willmar in Kandiyohi County on the 2nd, but no specific location was given. A second Kandiyohi County Summer Tanager and a WORM-EATING WARBLER were both seen near Willmar in the 3rd. From Willmar take U.S. Highway 12 west. Take the 1st right after you pass over a railroad bridge. Go one block to Gorton Ave. Turn right and go about 1/2 block. On the left side of the road is a park called Berquist Wildlife Area. The birds were seen along the creek. And yet another Summer Tanager was seen at the J C Hormel nature center in Austin, Mower County on the 5th, but again, no specific location was given.
Two HENSLOW'S SPARROW were seen May 5th at Carver Park in Carver County. The birds were on the entrance road to the Nature Center near the Lowry Nature Center sign..
Other species reported include two GREAT GRAY OWLS, seen by Warren Nelson on May 1st. One bird was seen along Pietz's Road, about 1/2 mile north of its intersection with Aitkin County Road 18. The other was about 1 mile east of here along 18. I also have reports of 23 species of warbler, plus BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, HARRIS'S SPARROW, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and INDIGO BUNTING.
The next scheduled update of this tape is Thursday May 14th.
Send your rare and unusual Minnesota sightings to our electronic hotline: MOU-net@biosci.umn.edu. To learn more, send a message (the message being these two words: info mou-net) to majordomo@biosci.umn.edu.
