Explore Minnesota Birding Report Update October 26, 2012
Avid backyard birders will want to consider participation in Project FeederWatch, beginning November 10. Just count the numbers and kinds of birds at your feeders each week and send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to support their research. For a small fee, participants will receive the FeederWatcher?s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds in their area, a calendar, complete instructions, and the FeederWatch annual report Winter Bird Highlights. To learn more, visit Project FeederWatch, or dial 1-800-843-2473
The following information has been provided courtesy of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and their affiliates. This report is brought to you by ExploreMinnesota.com.
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The following is a list of recent, significant sightings:
On October 23, Conny Brunell found a Surf Scoter on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Hennepin County. Another Surf Scoter has been on Lake Waconia in Carver County for the past week. Andrew Nyhus found one on October 22 at the Stokman Wildlife Management Area in Blue Earth County. Three Surf Scoters and a Black Scoter were at the Wells wastewater treatment plant in Blue Earth County on the 21st. Another Surf Scoter was at Perch Lake in Lincoln County on the 20th.
A Townsend's Solitaire was seen at the Ann Lake campground parking lot in Sherburne County on the 22nd. On the 20th, a Varied Thrush was reported from the Blue Hill Trail at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Sherburne County. It was seen near the pine stand beyond the return loop from the observation deck.
On the 22nd, Mike Henry reported a Carolina Wren on Plummer Circle in Rochester, Olmsted County. The exact location was just east of U.S. Highway 52 and south of 9th Street SW.
Shawn Conrad reported 20 Bohemian Waxwings near the Shoreline Inn at the Grand Marais harbor, Cook County, on the 17th.
On the 19th, a Summer Tanager was visiting a feeder in Hutchinson, McLeod County. It was seen along Hillcrest Road NE between 6th Avenue East and College Avenue.
Kim Eckert found a flock of 50 Smith's Longspurs at the Russell sewage ponds in Lyon County on October 21st.
And last, a Hoary Redpoll was in Duluth on the 22nd--no further information is available regarding this sighting.
Information in this statewide birding report is provided by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), Minnesota's oldest and largest bird club. To submit a bird sighting, email the MOU birding report compiler at rba@moumn.org.
