Explore Minnesota Birding Report Update November 27, 2012 Each fall, the Mississippi River valley becomes a migration corridor for many species of waterfowl, raptors and shorebirds moving from their northern summer homes to warmer southern wintering grounds. Spectacular views of Bald Eagles are available at many sites along Highway U.S. 61 from Red Wing to Winona. Learn more about some of the best sites to view Bald Eagles.
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:
Shawn Zierman found a Brant on November 20th feeding on the ballfields at Park Point in Duluth. Though not seen recently, the bird may still be in the area, associating with a group of Canada Geese. A Harlequin Duck was at the far end of Park Point on the 21st, and two Great Black-Backed Gulls were at Canal Park on the 25th.
There was a secondhand report of a Little Gull seen with a flock of 50 Bonaparte's Gulls on November 19th at Tamarack Point Campground in Cass County. This location is near Lake Winnibigoshish.
At least one and as many as three Pacific Loons have been reported from the south shore of Lake Waconia in Carver County. In Wright County, an immature Long-Tailed Duck was on Maple Lake on the 25th, seen from the beach on State Highway 55.
A Snowy Owl was reported on the 20th from the north end of Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge. It was perched on a power pole along Becker County Road 13 roughly two and one-quarter miles south of County Road 14. Two Snowy Owls were in Marshall County on the 21st, north and west of the town of Argyle at 320th Street and 400th Avenue.
On the 18th, Brian Smith found a fairly late Dunlin at the Sleepy Eye wastewater treatment ponds in Brown County.
And on the 23rd, Paul and JoAnn Gunderson reported a Carolina Wren at their suet feeder in Big Lake Township, Sherburne County. Another was at Carpenter Nature Center in Washington County at the northern end of the River Trail on the 19th.
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.
