Minnesota Birding Report Newsletter Friday, August 29
In general, August is an excellent time to see families of sandhill cranes emerging from their nesting marshes to relocate to adjacent hayfields and grasslands. And, birders can still see large numbers of American white pelicans at the Minnesota River dam in Granite Falls, the dam near Watson, and the spillway on Marsh Lake near Appleton.
The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
A Swallow-Tailed Kite has been observed just east of Madelia in Wantonwon County since August 22, and it was still present as of Thursday, August 28. All observations have been within one-quarter of a mile stretch of State Highway 60/15, between the exits for Highway 15 and County Road 3. The best place to view this bird is near the BP Gas Station at the southbound entrance to Highway 60 from County Road 3. This would be the state’s 18th record of Swallow-tailed Kite since 1900, but the fourth since 2000. With an increase in records in recent years, this species’s status in Minnesota has changed from Accidental to Casual.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by and financially supported by the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union (MOU), Minnesota’s oldest and largest bird club. The report is composed from reports submitted by MOU members and other birders throughout the state. You can support this weekly birding update by submitting your bird reports to Anthony Hertzel at axhertzel@sihope.com or by calling the hotline directly at 763-780-8890 and leaving a detailed message. MOU members receive the organization’s quarterly journal “The Loon,” and the bi-monthly magazine, “Minnesota Birding.” For membership information, send an e-mail message to our membership secretary at membership@moumn.org
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
